NOT ME...REALLY?

Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not anxiously look about you,
for I am your God. I will
strengthen you, surely I will
help you, surely I will uphold
you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

A doctor I saw today at an appointment in general conversation, said, “We are sure in the most difficult of times.” That was putting it mildly and he knew that. We are troubled on every side seeing things going on in our country we never thought possible. It's easy to see things and take on a judgmental spirit toward others, refusing to look at our own sinful ways.

A few days ago, there was a chapter of Scripture that kept crossing my mind. I knew what the chapter contained and to be honest, just didn't want to go there. I knew, however, that the Holy Spirit was prompting me to go to that place, so I did.

The chapter is Psalm 51...a prayer by David seeking God's pardon for sins that had just been pointed out to him by the prophet Nathan. David found himself in a place he never thought he would be in...much like us with our own sin. David was a good boy, son and man. No one would have believed the depths of sin to which David stooped beginning with being out of God's will. David, as king, was supposed to go to war with his army like kings did in that day. This time he stayed home. In that process, he sought out a beautiful woman he spotted across the way bathing. We know what it all led to...lust, adultery, murder of the woman's husband that ended up with the death of his own newborn son. David was a good man, weak for many days, susceptible to sin like we all are. To this we would say perhaps to ourselves, “That would never happen to me.” Really?... be careful.

David, however, when approached by Nathan regarding his sin, didn't deny any of it. He took responsibility unlike in our day when someone is caught in crime or sin of some sort. The whole thing was so heartbreaking for David. He knew he had disappointed God and in Psalm 51 confesses his sin, shame and repentance for those things.

We look around today and see people dressed in black as well as high up people in their fine clothes rioting, plotting, and lying through their teeth just to keep our country torn up. We can become pretty judgmental of them all and yet every yelling, screaming, destructive person is of concern to our Heavenly Father. He wants to save them, bring them to Himself even though we don't understand it.

In this Psalm, David prays some things that appear in very short in words. Looking , especially at the first 14 verses we see parts of Davids prayer: Be gracious to me, Blot out my sin, Wash me, Cleanse me, Purify me, Restore, Sustain me, Deliver me. David put himself out there before God in sorrow and repentance.: He says in verse 4

Against You, You only, I have sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified when you
speak and blameless when You judge.

As strange as it may seem, we cannot sin against another person. However, he recognized that his sin wasn't toward those he had hurt, but against God. Sin is anything that goes against the principles and will of God. We can hurt people and it can at times cause far reaching damage, but sin will always be toward God. David wasn't covering his wrong doing, but knew he first had to go to God.

Nestled in the middle of David's prayer is verse 10, a precious, priceless prayer he prayed with a repentant and sincere spirit. It's not a group prayer...it's a very private one and the result was clearly seen in the changed life of David.

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

This is a prayer we all could pray frequently. There's a lot going on in our country, a lot that seems even beyond the bounds of wrong doing. It's easy to look at ourselves and feel pretty self satisfied because we aren't like the rest. God hates our sin and wrong doing just as much as in those bent on destruction, perhaps more because we know better, or should.

If we are wanting revival in our country, it's going to have to begin in you and me individually. We believers need to get real and transparent with God...praying for His grace, forgiveness and deliverance. May we look into the mirror of God's Word with a yielded spirit. In addition, may we be people of prayer like never before. It can't be a one time “Now I lay me down to sleep” kind of prayer. It can't be one or two-time prayers. We must pray like warriors digging in the trenches because prayer still changes things.

Dear Father, forgive me for being judgmental toward others. May I be a person more of love toward others, knowing in their wrong doing, they need You in a huge way. Help me to keep short accounts with You when it comes to my own sin. Renew a right spirit in me. In Jesus name...Amen