A Clean Heart

Today's Promise is from guest author, Stephanie Mitchell.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you’ve ever messed up, you’re in good company. Paul, the author behind much of the New Testament, writes in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Paul wasn't always a man who followed God's own heart, either—in fact, early in his life, he killed people who followed Jesus.

God did not abandon Paul. He did not exclude David. And He will not forsake you, either! God does not leave us to ourselves or our pasts, nor does He give us what we fully deserve. Instead, He put on skin and took our place. Jesus became the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for our sin—once and for all. He loves us, despite what we may have done!

If you’re longing for a second chance or craving a relationship with the one true God, but aren’t sure where to start, try borrowing some of David’s words. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

When we seek God, we realize that He’s already been seeking us.

God is faithful. He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He’ll do. He is your merciful Savior, He forgives your sins, and He not only makes your heart clean, but He also makes you a brand new creation.

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We pray as David prayed. Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. Point out anything in us that offends You, and lead us along the path of everlasting life. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Including...

Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.

Mark 16:7 NLT

Jesus was great about including Peter. Peter, James and John went places with Him that the others did not go - he was in Jesus' inner circle. He is the only one besides Jesus who ever walked on water - in a storm yet - he got out of the boat! (Yes, I know he started to sink when he took his eyes off Christ, but don't we all when we take our eyes off Jesus?!? Would you have even gotten out of the boat?) This same Peter bragged that he would die for Christ, yet within 24 hours denied knowing Him 3 times. When the realization of what he'd done hit him, he wept bitterly and left. There is no mention of him at the crucifixion.

Including Peter... Simon Peter had issues. He already knew he wasn't worthy of even being in the presence of Jesus (Luke 5:8), and yet Christ chose him to be one of His disciples. Think of all the ups and downs of Peter's life in action. Peter goes from being the one with the revealed knowledge that Jesus is the Christ and Jesus declaring that Peter will have the keys of the kingdom to Peter trying to correct Jesus, then Jesus calling Peter 'satan' and telling Peter to get away from Him - all in one chapter (Matthew 16)!

Have you ever messed up so bad that you wonder if Jesus will forgive you?  I think almost everyone goes through that at some point in their walk with Christ... including Peter. The Truth remains - Christ was crucified so that we could be forgiven.

Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter...

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to get it - to fully understand the depth and fullness of Your mercy and Your grace in our lives, so we can tell others, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen