Chances are, at one point in your life you've wanted a fresh start. It's also a common theme for January. With the new year finally here, it's time to pick up where the busy holiday season left off. Routines and schedules return to normal and there's an excess of motivation in the air. I was dreaming of a fresh, new year already at the beginning of November of last year. That's where this story starts, with me awake at 5 a.m. after failing to fall asleep the night before. Day after day of trying to muster up the energy to do the bare minimum. Everything that I imagined going wrong last year, went wrong and then some. Near the end of 2024 I was depleted, I was lost. My soul was craving something that I wasn't able to face. Until now. That's when I heard a still, small voice say, "Begin again."
Just when I was ready to give up for good, I felt the Spirit tell me it wasn't too late. Not for me, and not for you! We can start fresh... NOW! We are clay in the Almighty's hands. He can take whatever shape we're in today and form something beautiful and breathtaking. Today is the day to renew. Renew your relationship with Christ. Renew your hope as you pray through whatever trials you're facing. Restoration is within your reach, and if you think you're too far gone, let's look at an example from someone who is called a man "after God's own heart."
Psalm 51 was written after David and Bathsheba had committed adultery together. David stayed home while his army headed off to battle (mistake #1). He was tempted by the sight of Bathsheba (mistake #2) and she soon conceived a child (mistake #3). In an attempt to hide his infidelity, he calls Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, home and tries to send him to her to cover up his own sin (mistake #4). Uriah, however, remains an honorable soldier and refuses. That's when David plots and orders him to be killed on the battle ground (mistake #5). Mistake after mistake, sin covering sin; David had made quite a mess of things. Sound familiar? Maybe you're not committing adultery and plotting muckduck (thanks, Dwight), but that doesn't mean our sin is any less sin. It does, however, sound a lot like a cycle we find ourselves in from time to time.
Sin separates us from God. David acknowledges this in Psalm 51:6. He is "coming clean" to God with His transgressions. Even though no act, word, or thought is hidden from Him, God wants us to come to Him and confess our sins. It is when we ask for forgiveness that brings reconciliation with Him. We repent, we confess, we are cleansed, and God leaves us sparkling like new.
David calls out for God to "create a clean heart" for him. The Hebrew word for 'create' in this verse, bara, was used only when God was the subject, as in something only God could create. God created the hearts that beat inside of you and me. He created David's heart, too, and only God can take the heart, whether they have become as hard as stone, full of fear and discouragement, or indifferent and lukewarm to His Truth, and make something completely new from it. That is why acknowledging our sin is paramount. If we ignore it, it becomes a consuming fire, or we are fooled into believing it isn't sin at all.
David asks God to "renew a steadfast spirit within" him. He wanted God to restore him from the inside out. After our hearts are cleansed our spirits can be restored and reconciled with God. Jeremiah 17:9-10 explains that "the heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable - who can understand it? The Lord, [examines] the mind, [tests] the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve." Guarding our hearts can be challenging, especially when our emotions take the throne. God doesn't want us going right back to the same life-draining routine only to pop in after a few days/weeks/months asking forgiveness all over again. Sure, it happens, but while we're focusing on it, the next 28 days should look entirely different from the 28 days prior, right? Right!
When we accept God's gracious, cleansing mercy, our spirit is renewed. We can experience joy again! Reading further on in Psalm 51:12-13, "restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you."
There is nothing good about sin, but there is something we can learn from David in how he responded to the forgiveness of his sins. David used his experiences to help him care for others. He could teach others by example. Our sin will never lead to good, but God can use our trials with sin to show others His goodness, mercy, and love.
To wrap up this week, Psalm 51:17 says, "the sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. [He] will not despise a broken and humbled heart." Only when we surrender our own selfish ways and turn from our own agendas to that of God's can we truly experience His joy and peace. If your heart isn't in it when you repent, you're wasting your own God-given time staying stuck in a cycle that carries you farther and farther from the Father and His good and perfect will for your life.
It is our duty upon putting our faith in God, that we use every bit of our earthly trials and suffering to help mature us more and more into the image of Christ. Because we know that no one can be perfect, we understand that this is a daily lifestyle choice we are making. We will never be able to conquer all, but we can be more than conquerors when we align ourselves in Spirit and in Truth! Stand firm with God's Word as your shield, eyes fixed on Him, as you offer up your heart to be cleaned and your spirit renewed.
No matter where you're starting out, know that you're already a step ahead of where you were yesterday. Keep it up and keep the faith!
