Create & Restore

“Create & Restore”

By Zach Wood

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

As we come close to the end of another year, many thoughts are going through people’s minds.  These thoughts can be anything from complete joy to complete sorrow.  The end of the year brings many thoughts about what our lives have been and what can be as we look to begin a new year.

Sometimes we really mess up during the year, but there are also times when we haven’t messed up, but bad things have ended up happening to us for one reason or another.  This can really make us angry and distraught in so many ways.  Maybe this year has been a really tough year for you with family or friends having a very difficult time.  Maybe it’s been a tough year with your job.  Maybe it’s been a tough year with some family situations you’d dealt with in your home.

There are endless scenarios we could bring up that can make a challenging year.  At the end of the year, we tend to be in two different worlds, so to speak.  We often dwell on the past year and the many things that we have done or said or that have happened to us.  Then we also think of the New Year and all that we want to accomplish or try new.

Whatever your thoughts are at this time, there are seasons of sorrow and seasons of joy.  Every human being experiences this.  David is no exception.  This is one of my favorite passages in Psalm.  David became a man after God’s heart.  He messed up big time and caused much grief, not only to himself, but also to others.  He had a lot of pain as he thought about the past and then looked to the future.

We all need to ask God to create in us a pure heart for various reasons.  We have thought and said bad things that we need to repent of.  We also need God to restore to us the joy of His salvation and the life He has given us.  He wants to create and restore in us a joy that only He can bring. 

Whatever you might be thinking about as you end this year and begin a new one, why not ask God this very day, and every day to create within you a sincere desire to have a pure heart and a restored life through Him?  He is so willing if you are willing to open up and let Him.