I'm feeling the need of some Psalm 51 today:

   ¹Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 

   ²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

   ³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

   ⁴Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

   ⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

   ⁶Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

   ⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

   ⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

   ⁹Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

   ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

   ¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

   ¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

   ¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. --vv. 1-13

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I have a note in my Bible next to verse 7. It says "hyssop is a plant used for scrubbing." It reminded me of my kitchen floor. Being chubby and having bad knees, the corners can get neglected week-to-week. Eventually I need to get the scrub-brush in there and get the *accumulated* grime.

That, I'm afraid, is like my life. I catch the "biggies" most of the time. When I hurt someone by a harsh word, I ask forgiveness. But I tend to "brush over" some things on my get-right-with-God list, and leave them in the corners, to build up. That's when I need Psalm 51.

I remember one incident in particular. I had been married about ten years, and had been "stuck in the house" with my six kids all week. Charming was home on Saturday, and, by golly, I was going shopping. ALONE. Never mind he was ill, and needed to sleep. "I promise, honey, I'll only be gone a little while."

Well, my shopping trip ended up being almost three hours. I remember thinking at one point, "oh, well, [Charming] will forgive me."

Red flag.

Well, of course, he did forgive me. But, of course, That Is Not The Point. I was wrong, wrong, wrong, to be so inconsiderate. And I have never forgotten that little thought--oh, well, he'll forgive me.

I so, so often treat my heavenly Father like that. I know that He will forgive me. I go on glibly, leaving "stuff" to build up in the corners of my life. Then I need that spiritual hyssop to do some scrubbing.

So, please, Lord. I'm way overdue for my Spring Cleaning. I want to be shiny and have that smell-good, Clean Feeling.

Then I get to do verse 13--"teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to Thee."

Good, good stuff.

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Posted by Anonymous

Very good stuff! "Do I sin that grace may abound....?"

Jen
www.inglesidemom.blogspot.com

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