Surrender

Psalm 51


For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.*
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,*
teaching me wisdom even there.

7 Purify me from my sins,* and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don't keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don't take your Holy Spirit* from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.



I love this psalm. In the past I tried to read it every morning in an attempt to start my days the rigth way. I'm trying to get back into that, and yesterday was my first day begining again. Something cooly happened yesterday and so I just wanted to share it with you.

Lately I've been thinking about the direction are lives take. The way societally they are meant to take, the way God wants them to go, and our own selfish desires. Over the last couple of weeks some people that I admire spiritually have had their lives put on hold because of a God prompting. I'm ashamed to say that that kind of scared me. I reverted back to the myself that was blinded by the words "missions", and "serving God", believing that that would mean I would have to go to some obscure part of the world and sacrifice the things that I value. I started praying the same way I always had, but God saw the doubt and fear that I tried to hide from Him. After reading, God prompted me to go to Jeremiah 10:22. The actual verse He wanted me to see was Jeremiah 10:23. and it said,"I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. 24 So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle..."
This verse made me realize two things.
First, that God is God. Meaning are lives are His to begin with and there really isn't to much we can do about it and that that isn't scary just ...life in the most wonderful way possible.
Second, that where our lives are not our own God has told us to talk to Him. To tell Him if something scares us, or ask for gentleness when directing our lives. His love for us is boundless and we shouldn't be afraid to talk to Him like a friend or father.
Our God is good and faithful. Thx for that JC :)