Say it with me, "Have mercy on me, O God."

Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2

David knew he had sinned and the first thing he needed was mercy. Mercy is what you hope for when you know that what you deserve is not going to be good. David knew that he deserved to die. He committed adultery and murder. Not to mention lying and a slew of other things he did to manipulate the entire army to serve his own ends. 

David also knew that God, in his very nature is merciful. He called on God, he pleaded with God to be merciful. I don't think David expected God to make everything just go away. He just knew he needed mercy. We need mercy, too. Some things may not go entirely away, but, God is still merciful. Like David, who knew he deserved to die, we just cry out for mercy. 

In what area of your life do you need mercy? You would be hard pressed to do much worse than David, yet he cried out for mercy. God didn't kill him or allow him to be killed, so got some mercy. He still was used to be a link in the Messianic chain. That's mercy. 

So what these verses tell us is that David needed mercy and he asked for it. What it means is that we can ask for mercy and God will still use us to build the kingdom. What it does for us today is allows us to cry out for mercy, no matter what we've done. It gives us hope. Say it with me, "Have mercy on me, O God."

What Do You Want Blotted Out From Your Life?

Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to you unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2

David was definitely a sinner. This Psalm is not a Psalm of praise. It is not just a plea for forgiveness, it's a cry from David to God asking God to remove the guilt of the sin he had committed. He knew he sinned. He realized the devastation his actions had produced. He wanted God to blot out his transgressions,  wash away all his iniquity and cleanse him from his sins. 

Not to justify or minimize any sin, but to emphasize the mercy of God I want us to remember that we are all sinners. Haven't we all wished that God would blot out some things - sin - from our lives. 

The amazing thing is that even though David did reap some negative things, the Lord still completed his purposes. The Messianic line  still prevailed and Christ was still born, died for our sins and rose again. 

You may want God to blot something out of your life. The truth is, God will accomplish his will because he is Sovereign, merciful, his love is unfailing and he has great compassion toward you! 

FIVE THINGS I NEED

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
     and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 Do not cast me from your presence
     or take your Holy Spirit from me.
 Restore to me the joy of my salvation
     and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
 Psalm 51:10-12

Throughout my life, the seasons, the trials, the struggles, the ups and downs, there are  many things I need God's help and intervention with. These verses nail five of them. 

First, I need a pure heart. The world we live in constantly bombards us with things not of God. I always need to keep my heart pure and without the Holy Spirit renewing me, I will just spiral down.

Second, I need a steadfast spirit within me. I need God to constantly renew me from within to deal with all that confronts me.

Third, I need his presence. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is within me, even when I can not sense him, brings peace and assurance. 

Forth, I need the joy of salvation. If I forget that Christ died for my sins (past, present and future sins) I will loose the humility and joy that comes from knowing I am a sinner saved by grace.

Last, I need a willing spirit to sustain me. If I am unwilling I will always miss out on what God is trying to work out in my life which is all things for the good. 

Father, thank you for forgiveness and my salvation. Grant me purity, renew a steadfast spirit within me, keep me in your presence filled with your Spirit, restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Praise be to you in us today! 

TELL ME ABOUT GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE

"Have mercy on me, O God, 
     according to your unfailing love;
 according to your great compassion
     blot out my transgressions. 
 Wash away all my iniquity
     and cleanse me from my sin."
 Psalm 51:1-2 

I can not tell you how many times I have been unable to see the end from the beginning and felt that I was at a complete loss. Yet, when I remembered that the truth is that God has unfailing love for me, and that even if I could not imagine how God was going to work things out, God always knows what he is doing, then peace would come. Sometimes it is a knock-down, drag 'em out battle within myself to not stay focused on only what I can see at the moment. Frankly, I am just working my way through one of those "precious moments". But, I know God is Sovereign Lord and he does have unfailing love for me. I have seen him bring me through every battle. So, I trust him now. 

What about you, can you remember how God's unfailing love has faithfully brought you through? If so, please share with us what God has done in your life.

TELL ME ABOUT GOD'S MERCY

"Have mercy on me, O God,
     according to your unfailing love;
 according to your great compassion
     blot out my transgressions.
 Wash away all my iniquity 
     and cleanse me from my sin."
 Psalm 51:1-2

I am far from perfect. I need God's mercy. This last year, I almost got bumped from my present work location which is about five minutes from my house if I hit most of the lights on the way, to who knows where. But, mercifully, it worked out that I am still close to home, working with a group of people I enjoy working with. 

What I would love to hear is how God has been merciful to you in your life. Please tell us.