“If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear; but certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.  Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me.”  (Psalm 66:18-20)

It is not that the Lord does not know all of the things that wander through our minds but that the Lord is intolerant of sin.  Yet, He perseveres in seeking after us that we may come into His presence with thanksgiving.  He must create in all of us a clean heart that we would come into His presence as we were made to be and not as we have become.  His lovingkindness is forever,

Lord I have harbored thoughts in my mind that need to be removed.  Guide me in Your ways that Your thoughts would be my thoughts as I learn in order that Your ways become my ways.  Guide me in the way of salvation which You have prepared that I would walk the journey You have planned.  Before me is Your goodness and lovingkindness; and my desire is to be Yours always.

Thank You, Lord, that You have not turned a blind eye to my plight.  Through the salvation You have prepared in the sacrifice of Christ, You have made possible my eternal reconciliation.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way of the cross that I would forever hold fast to the truth You have revealed and the way that has been made straight.  You alone are able to lead me where I need to go.  Take me with You that where You are I will be also.  Amen.

“Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.  For He has delivered me from all trouble, and my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.”  (Psalm 54:6-7)

Lord, You call for me to willingly sacrifice to You, but I often begrudgingly make sacrifices.  My eye often does look with satisfaction when my enemies get what I think they deserve.  But all of this merely points to the fact that my heart is far from You and not like Yours.  You have the ability to create in me a clean heart, So Lord I ask that You would do so, so that I may have a heart that is pleasing to You.

Lord, I can use this Psalm to justify the wickedness in my heart, but that is not why you put it here.  Help me, I pray, to simply come to the place where I am willing to put the whole of me on the altar of Your presence and be one who sacrifices all for You.  Deliver me from the trouble of my heart and guide me according to Your goodness to see in You alone the hope of glory that You offer in grace.

Lord Jesus, You have come that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me by Your grace to make sacrifices that are pleasing to the Father.  Kindle in me the Spirit of Your love that I would not seek things for vain glory, but look to You as the example of One who sacrificed Himself for the sake of us all.  Lead me Lord Jesus, for I cannot, nor should not ever take the lead.  Amen.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”  (Psalm 51:10-11)

For those who are liturgical, this familiar passage, offered as an offertory, speaks the need we all have that our gifts would be a sacrifice of the heart and not just a motion we go through.  Knowing that it is our hearts toward Him in all things that the Lord is after, we do well to meditate on His presence and the offer of grace we have received.  Do not take it for granted.

Lord, throughout Scripture, You have made the offer of grace if we will turn to You.  Help me to take this matter to the heart that I would meditate on Your Word day and night and realize that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Lead me O Lord and grant by grace that I would follow.  Renew daily the need I have and the means You give that I would continue the journey.

Lord Jesus, You are the one who cleans the heart from the inside out.  Help me see that in You alone and by Your grace alone is this possible.  I cannot, but You can.  Fill me with the presence of Your Spirit and day by day, renew in me a right spirit that looks to You, the author and finisher of my faith, as the guide, source, means and hope of the future.  Lead me Lord Jesus where I should go.  Amen.