“Create a clean heart for me, God;
put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!”
Psalms 51:10
In Psalms 51:10, the prayer for a clean heart signifies a realization of a loss of inner purity. What was once uncontaminated has become diluted and entangled with mixed perceptions not rooted in God. The gesture also recognizes the need to regain a precious attribute that has been lost. Take notice of the order of commodities requested by the writer. A clean heart precedes a right spirit, which implies that to obtain a dedicated spirit, the heart must be toxin-free. It’s a purified heart that creates the environment for a spirit committed to God’s will. The filthiness of the heart causes us to behave outside of the principles of God. This filthiness is a result of the lack of continuous cleaning. Spiritually, continuous cleaning takes place when we spend time in the presence of God. It’s in God’s presence that He reveals those behaviors and attitudes we need to shed and the godly attributes we need to develop. The passage in Psalm 139:23-24 expresses a plea for an inward search, an indirect admission of awareness that one’s life has not met God’s standards. Moreover, it acknowledges God as the only one who is capable of determining our true motives and leading us back to a state of a clean heart and a right spirit. Without a clean heart, forgiveness is not possible. The decision to forgive keeps us cleansed from the toxins associated with unforgiveness, such as bitterness, anger, and sadness. The practice of forgiveness also helps us to maintain the right spirit within. A spirit is considered right when it mirrors the characteristics of holiness ascribed by God. As we endeavor to seek out God’s view regarding our inner selves, we can trust that he will lead and help us to reflect His character.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”Psalm 139:23-24
“As a cleaning agent, forgiveness uproots the negative psychological impacts of wrongdoings suffered.” _ASA
Chronicles of ASA 