A Repentant Heart

The Bible study that I chose for today actually started as a study of nature and how it reflects God's glory. As I was reading Psalm 19, I came across the verses below, and they struck a cord. Over the past several years, I have felt myself drawing nearer to God and being more concerned with living a life that is pleasing to Him. I am by no means "there" yet, but I am striving to "forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead". These verses offered encouragment and a challenge worth accepting.


Psalm 19:12-14

12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. (N)
13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; (O) do not let them rule over me. (P) Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion. (Q)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, (R) LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (S)

Phillipians 3:12-21

12 Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold (U) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not [c] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind (V) and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly [d] call in Christ Jesus. (W) 15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal (X) this to you also. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever [truth] we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross (Y) of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory (Z) is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious (AA) body, (AB) by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.


Father God,

Thank you, Lord, for the forgiveness I have claimed through the redeeming, restoring, mighty blood of Christ. I am often amazed anew when I think about the sacrifice made to bring unworthy, stumbling, bumbling me back into right relationship with You. Guard my heart, Lord, and continue to refine and renew me daily. Like David, I ask that You cleanse me from my "hidden faults" and protect me from knowingly stepping back into a sinful lifestyle. Like Paul, I strive to be mature in my walk and allow myself to be drawn closer to You. Strengthen my walk and reveal my shortcomings to me. As always and in all things, let Your will, not mine, be done.

In Jesus' name,
Amen