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Intention

To search one’s heart and pray for God’s cleansing and renewing heart surgery.

Scripture

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

– Psalm 51:10

Reflection

One of the most misleading pieces of advice you will ever hear is the recommendation to follow your heart.

God says the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9).

We are all inclined towards sin and selfishness. There is no way that, by ourselves, we can change this. We need a new heart – a clean heart – and only the Lord can give this to us.

We know David as the shepherd boy, the writer of many psalms and the second king of ancient Israel. God declared that David was “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

But I remind you, as I remind myself, that he committed murder and adultery. Yes, he did repent and was forgiven by God. But the damage was done.

David prays the prayer of Psalm 51 because he is dealing with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah.

It was probably a full year from when David committed these sins to the time he wrote this psalm.

David was full of grief and guilt and remorse, and he needed spiritual heart surgery that only God could perform. Even a man once described as “after God’s own heart” needed a renewed, clean heart.

When David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart”, he used the same Hebrew verb (bara) used in Genesis 1:1 for the creation of the world. By using this word, he emphasises that the radical cleansing he needed could only come from God. In Scripture, only God is said to ‘create’ (bara) anything.

David knew the direction of his desires and thoughts could only come about through the intervention of God as well.

King Solomon told his son, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The matter of the heart is of utmost importance before God.

I find myself often praying Psalm 51. Sometimes I am conscious of my sin, while other times I am not – and yet I pray the prayer of Psalm 51.

This is essential as I seek to honour and glorify the Lord, live for and serve Him. In many ways, it’s where it begins.

Video

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of abundant life found in Jesus.

Help us to keep our heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life. You know our deepest desire is to honour You, to live for You and to serve You will all of our heart.

But You also know that there are times when we sin and fall short of the glory of God.

And so, I pray, along with David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God”. I must have a clean heart if I am to be used for Your greater kingdom purposes.

Thank You for Your cleansing blood that flows from Calvary. Wash me, cleanse me and through me, may Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Amen.

Author Bio

James Condon is the Chairman of Australia Prays, the Chairman of last year’s WPA in Perth and the Chairman of Caloundra Queensland City Pastor’s network. He is working with other intercessors to establish a prayer mountain on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. James is the former Commissioner of the Salvation Army.

Prayer Points and Purpose for October 2024

1. Revival and restoration of sexual integrity to renew the individual, revitalise marriages, restore families and protect children. Hebrews 13:4
2. Revival, repentance and reformation of Australia. 2 Chronicles 7:14
3. Revival, repentance and reformation of America. 2 Chronicles 7:14
4. The Lamb that was slain may receive a reward for His suffering. Revelation 5:12

We invite you to support this prayer campaign by ordering your FREE copy of Break Through: 15 Keys to Supernatural Breakthrough, a book on prayer written by Warwick Marsh. Reading this book will multiply the effectiveness of your prayers. You can make a donation to the Canberra Declaration to help pay it forward and bless someone else to receive a free copy of Break Through.

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