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Author: Nico Angleys, from the Servants of the Word, an international, ecumenical brotherhood of men living single for the Lord.

Holiness in what I do

In Psalm 51, David writes: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10-12)

Psalm 51 is the great psalm of repentance that teaches us how to ask for forgiveness from God. Our verses here speak of a new heart, of remaining in God’s presence, of keeping God’s Holy Spirit, and restoring to us joy and obedience that come from God. In the Bible, the heart represents the part of a person that makes decisions and chooses how to act. Repentance comes from recognizing that we have acted wrongly and from a desire to change so that in the future we will act well, or rightly. Only God can change our heart and our spirit, hence these verses ask God to do just that.

In prayer before God, the Holy One, ask Him for this new heart, for a renewed spirit to enable you to remain in His presence throughout the  day. Memorize these verses and say them out loud to yourself several times today.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.