In prayer, David said in Psalms 51: 10-12, create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
By this prayer, David confessed that only God creates a pure heart; that a relationship with God requires a new spirit free from sin; that sin separates us from God’s presence except with a character change; that salvation brings joy in the Lord which we lose when we commit sin; that only God restores our lost joy in your salvation; and that only God sustains us with a spirit willing to obey and to serve him.
The question is how to maintain a clean heart. By divine guidance, David set out how we can maintain a new heart in Psalms 51 as follows:
We must keep God’s presence
The Holy Spirit in our hearts is evidence of Jesus’ presence with us. It is the Holy Spirit that enables a clean heart by the cleansing of the blood of Christ Jesus. David said in Psalms 51: 11, do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Jesus said in Matthew 10: 38 whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. In effect, Jesus wants a relationship that is built on character just as David asked for. A clean heart requires living according to the standard of the cross of following Jesus, Matthew 16: 24, Mark 8: 34; Luke 9: 23.
We must keep the joy of the Lord
David said in Psalms 51: 12 restore to me the joy of your salvation. David knew the secret of keeping a clean heart. Nehemiah 8: 10 says the joy of the LORD is your strength. We will always be renewed with a clean heart if we are joyful in God. However, not everyone gets happy with God. In Mark 10: 17-22 when Jesus asked the man who wanted eternal life to go, sell what he had, give the money to the poor, and follow him, he was shocked and went away grieving. Our joy must not be in possessions but in Jesus.
We must desire a willing spirit
David said in the concluding part of Psalms 51: 12,.. sustain in me a willing spirit. We need a willing and obedient heart to serve Jesus. No rebellious heart is clean before God. Leviticus 19: 37 says keep my statutes, and observe them; I am the LORD; I sanctify you. A willing spirit is that which is ready to always depend on God. It is a submissive spirit of humility ready to serve God in all circumstances. A willing spirit is a humble spirit before God.
We must evangelize
David said in Psalms 51: 13, then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. David says we must share the word of God or evangelize. This keeps us in check and ready for sharing. Jesus said in Mark 13: 10 and the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. Luke 24: 47 says that it must begin from Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city of his crucifixion and seat of his redemption. Matthew 24: 14 says we must testify to all the nations; and the end will come. Testifying without a clean heart has no reward. However, a clean heart will always testify of God’s goodness. Do we have clean hearts washed in the blood of Jesus which are acceptable before God?
We must avoid blood shed
David who needed God’s help to keep a clean heart said in Psalms 51: 14 deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation. In order to maintain a clean heart, we must avoid shedding blood in or outside the womb. David had cause to shed blood but did not because he wanted a clean heart. Every offense against us is an opportunity to be better people before God through forgiveness or abstinence. Do we have the same spirit as David had or do we have delight in shedding even innocent blood?
We must always praise God
David said in Psalms 51: 15, O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. In all circumstances, our faithful God deserves to be praised so Deuteronomy 10: 21 says he is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Giving thanks puts us above complaint, bitterness, and focuses our minds on God rather than against God. Praising God from our hearts liberates the soul. What is our praise for God?
We must live by God’s will
God’s will is the bible. David said in Psalms 51: 16-17,….The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. David knew God’s will so he asked accordingly to keep a pure heart. Knowing what God wants must always direct us towards him. The foremost will of God is for us to keep pure hearts in righteousness in Christ Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour. Jesus said in Matthew 6: 33 but strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Knowing God’s will is the foundation of a clean heart. Do we know God’s will?
We must intercede for people
David said in Psalms 51: 18, do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. A clean heart comes with a burden to stand in the gap for your nation or people. The nation’s burden must be our burden. A clean heart does not engage in a selfish prayer or desire but the betterment of all people. James 5: 16 says pray for one another, so that you may be healed. Every nation needs healing and it will take the children of God with a clean heart to intercede for the nation’s soul. Isaiah 35: 3 says strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. How are we interceding for the weak? A clean heart is never selfish or self-centered.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we need clean hearts that are free from sin. We have returned to your feet to be cleansed in your blood. Wash our lives in your precious blood so we may serve you as we ought to do. Keep us in righteousness so our foundation may be firm in you. Awaken our desires to thirst for your holiness and give us a loving heart that is ready to share your love with perishing souls. Thank you Jesus for answered prayer, Amen!!
