Renewed by Grace

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10

Have you ever struggled with the same sin over and over? 

Far too many of us find ourselves in this place of being stuck in a cycle of sin. Why is that? When we sin, we instinctively know the first thing we need is forgiveness from God. That, however, is only the first part of your healing. You also need to be renewed. 

Forgiveness is the cure to the infection of sin that plagues each of us. In today’s verse, King David realized that forgiveness was not the only need that he had when it came to his sin struggle. He also needed a brand new start within.

The same is true of all of us. We do what we do and ignore God’s precepts. This requires that we deal not only with the symptoms of our problems, but also the cause of them. In Psalm 51:10 King David realizes that he doesn’t just need pardon from his sin, he needs purity. In other words, we don’t just need to be cleared of our sin; we need to be renewed by grace. 

That is why David wrote,“Create in me a pure heart, O God...” When dealing with guilt it is not just something on the surface that can be scraped off. It is not something that can be cured with a home remedy. Sin requires radical, invasive heart surgery. In fact, healing from sin requires a spiritual heart transplant. 

The Hebrew word used in Psalm 51:10 for “create” is the same word used in Genesis to describe the creation of the world. It means, “to create something out of nothing.” It is a miracle that only God can perform. 

God knows that the problem at the root of your sin is your heart. And He has provided a remedy. He will give you a new heart and complete spiritual renewal. That’s why he promises in Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

God doesn’t stop at dealing with what you do. He gets to the heart of what you are. Ask God to create in you a new heart and to renew your spirit. He will cleanse you from within and make you steadfast in Him.

The truth is that all of the goals and self-help resources in the world are worthless and powerless to overcome habitual sin. So simply ask, and you will be renewed by God’s grace.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that I don’t have to use my will power to overcome my sin. Help me stop trying to change the outside and instead surrender to Your grace, changing me from within. Thank You for Your Spirit within me and giving me a new heart, ready to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.