Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "A Plea for Cleansing" by Scott and Sherry Sherwood for Saturday, 12 November 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 51:1-4,10-19

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "A Plea for Cleansing" by Scott and Sherry Sherwood for Saturday, 12 November 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 51:1-4,10-19
-------
"A Plea for Cleansing" by Scott and Sherry Sherwood
Psalm 51:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David, 2 when Natan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bat-Sheva:
3 (1) God, in your grace, have mercy on me;
in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.
4 (2) Wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.
10 (8) Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
so that the bones you crushed can rejoice.
11 (9) Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my crimes.
12 (10) Create in me a clean heart, God;
renew in me a resolute spirit.
13 (11) Don’t thrust me away from your presence,
don’t take your Ruach Kodesh away from me.
14 (12) Restore my joy in your salvation,
and let a willing spirit uphold me.
15 (13) Then I will teach the wicked your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
16 (14) Rescue me from the guilt of shedding blood,
God, God of my salvation!
Then my tongue will sing
about your righteousness —
17 (15) Adonai, open my lips;
then my mouth will praise you.
18 (16) For you don’t want sacrifices, or I would give them;
you don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.
19 (17) My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit;
God, you won’t spurn a broken, chastened heart.
-------
Consider the words of King David as he asked God to cleanse him from his unrighteousness after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Allow Psalm 51 to wash over you in complete surrender to the God who heals and makes us whole again. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (v. 1).
Perhaps God is doing mighty things in and through your life, but you need Him today to remind you that you have been forgiven and He has washed you clean. You are no longer defined by the sins of your past; you are a new creation.

Oh God of compassion, have mercy on me, a sinner. Blot out the stain of my sin, and wash me clean from my guilt. Renew a new spirit within me and restore me to the joy of your salvation. Give me a new heart, a clean heart, to replace this heart of rebellion. Remove the scars my sin has left behind and heal my brokenness. Fill me with your Holy Spirit as evidence of your unfailing love. Lord, I long to be in your holy presence. Amen.
-------
Hymn for Today: "Whiter Than Snow" by James Nicholson
1. Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
2. Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
3. Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice.
I give up myself, and whatever I know,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
4. Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessèd Lord, at Thy crucified feet.
By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
5. Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait,
Come now, and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst No,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
6. The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
O glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
-------
Thought for Today: 1 John 1:9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
-------
Please Pray: For extension education in Mesoamerica.
-------