Repentance and Wall Building

Psalm 51 would have to be one of my personal favorites. For years I’ve poured my heart out to God in prayer reading this repentance Psalm. I usually would stop reading at verse 12. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” I guess I stopped there because I was tuckered out, or it was too much effort to turn the page and read the remainder of the Psalm in my New King James Bible.
Truthfully, I think I wasn’t prepared yet for digesting verses 13 through 17. I mean, having a broken spirit is rough. I’m especially stubborn, so I’ve been in a broken spirit season for a while. I’ve been unpacking a lot of boxes from the attic of my past. Recognizing my pain, fear, and disappointment; and confessing the good and bad habits I’ve picked up along the way to keep those boxes sealed. Wow, what clutter I’ve accumulated, and how healing it is to grieve each piece as it is being tossed or salvaged.

I’m sensing that I’m moving into a new season of digestion in Psalm 51, verses 18 and 19. Now that I’m less cluttered, I’m ready to get to work. I’ve become fascinated with the subject of wall building, so I‘ve been studying the book of Nehemiah. I’m not literally interested in building a wall, but rather on restructuring my life to reflect my God-given purpose.

I feel my first step in mission orientation is to commit the following passage to memory:
“Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJ)

Lord, I thank you that you’ve provided atonement for me through Jesus Christ. I think the writer of Hebrews said it best: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 (NKJ)