A Clean Heart

As a child and teen, I memorized these verses from a song we sang in church each week. This was King David’s prayer after the prophet, Nathan, confronted David with his sin. Words that became my prayer in times of confession and repentance.  

Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence;
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12 (KJV) 

David’s repentant heart cried out to God. He recognized his sin and brokenness and asked for a refreshing of joy that comes to us through salvation.

To better understand David’s prayer, I looked for clarification on two phrases: renew a right spirit within me and uphold me with thy free Spirit.

The NIV reads a steadfast spirit within me which means an established, unwavering, and loyal spirit. 

In place of thy free Spirit, the NIV states, grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Other versions read make me willing to obey you (NLT & GNB).

I’ve often sung these words after my attitude turns sour or unkind words spew from my mouth. I’m thankful God hears my cry and forgives. Also grateful for 1 John 1:9 (NIV). 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

God renews my joy when I repent and turn to Him as stated in Acts 3:19 (NIV).

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

My prayer for us today is this:

Father, renew within us a pure heart. May we be established in Christ, unwavering in our faith, and loyal to You. We are grateful that you don’t give up on us. We need You as our constant companion. Fill us with the joy we experienced when we first received you into our lives. Make us willing children of obedience who follow You and Your Word. Amen.

Beauty in Brokenness

“God takes . . . the broken or blemished and restores them to new life and beauty.”

This line is spoken by my main character, Keedryn Reynolds, in my novel, Let Him Go. She asks Blake Conner, her cranky boss, “Have you heard about the Japanese art using gold to repair broken pottery? They restore the broken pieces to an even more beautiful vessel than the original and bring it new life. God does that for us too.”

Keedryn described the Japanese art of Kintsugi which takes broken pieces of pottery and restores them with gold.

God, too, finds beauty in the broken. He turns our flaws and imperfections into a work of art. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Evidence of His love overflows as we go from brokenness to restoration. We can then pour into the lives of other broken people and comfort them. It’s not about us—it’s about Jesus and serving others. Doing the good things God planned for us long ago.

Near the end of my novel, Blake gives Keedryn a gift. A Kintsugi bowl. He holds it in his hands and says, “After all the pain and heartache, you’re more beautiful to me than before. Your Christ-like love, which I don’t deserve, makes you more valuable and precious than I ever imagined.”

That’s my desire. To become more valuable for God’s work through sharing Christ-like love. To show grace and mercy and to encourage hope.

We grow in faith and learn to trust God more through our brokenness as He heals, restores, and refines us. But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold (Job 23:10).

I am becoming gold. Pure gold. I believe that He who began a good work within me will continue His work until it is finally finished (Philippians 1:6).