Devotion: Psalm 51:12

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

This psalm was written by David when he was king and was a personal prayer of repentance. The prophet Nathan had confronted him about the affair he had been trying to hide that resulted in the murder of Bathsheba’s husband. He had spent nearly a year trying to cover up the sins he had committed, which were many – from lust, to having an affair, to murder. And as we know, sin interrupts the relationship we have with God and disrupts the blessings in our lives. David’s sins were many and great and he was feeling the weight of those transgressions when he cried out to God for restoration and renewal.

David’s plea for renewal wasn’t done to ask God to save him. He knew where his salvation came from and he had enough confidence in God to know he was secure. But he had lost the joy and fellowship he once experienced with God when sin stepped in and ruled in his life. We can easily see how sin can separate us from Him. David was a man after God’s heart, yet even this amazing, complicated individual fell from grace when he allowed sin to take root.

But just as easily as it is to fall from grace, we can find restoration and renewal. We must confess our sins, repent and turn away from them and back to God. David cried out to the Lord to restore him and to give him a heart that was once again obedient. He wanted to replace his sinful inclinations with a spirit that would draw near to God and follow His will.

This psalm is the perfect example of what we need to do when we find ourselves falling from grace and damaged by sin. It gives us guidance in what authentic repentance looks like and how we can restore our fellowship with God. We can have our joy restored and our spirit renewed if we turn to Him with a truly repentant attitude.

If sin has disrupted your relationship with God then turn back to Him today. Use this psalm as a model for your prayer and turn away from the sins in your life. And know that just like David, He will restore you and renew your spirit once more.

Prayer: Lord, Please don’t let sin disrupt the fellowship I have with You. I confess those sins now and I ask that You help me turn from them back to You to be restored and renewed. Amen

You might also like this:

Devotion: Habakkuk 2:3 Devotion: John 1:14 Devotion: 1 Chronicles 29:13