Devotional 2-24-08

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.

The words to this song, based on the scripture lesson from Psalm 51:10-13, have been running through my head the past several days. As we are working our way through this season of lent, God wants us to search ourselves - our hearts and our minds, and throw out the garbage, center ourselves upon Jesus and Jesus’ message for us, and clean up our act. We all need God to create a clean heart in each one of us.

Do you have a place in your home or office, that you can go to, to just sit and be quiet? It can be as simple as a rocking chair or it can be a small table with a few of your favorite things or it can be a small altar with a candle or a cross. You decide what it takes for you to be able to center your mind and your heart on God. It is your space – your special meeting place with God, to discuss and listen, to be quiet and joyful, to focus and to clean out.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And uphold me.

When we really begin to search and open our hearts and our minds, we uncover our garbage – our faults, our vulnerabilities, our shortcomings; but we also bring to light - our gifts, our love, our beautiful memories, that we need to develop and share. When we let God take charge and create a clean heart, we receive such a gift. And because we receive that gift from God, we want to share it with those we love and those we don’t even know.

God wants us to know ourselves intimately. Then and only then, can we be authentic. Then we can truly have a heart that has been cleansed by God. Then we can share our hearts, our minds, our love and God’s love with everyone we encounter.

Ask God to create a clean heart in you this day. Find the time and the space to search your heart and your mind. Throw that garbage away. Allow God’s light and God’s love to shine through you in all you do. You will be blessed and you will be a blessing to so many.

AMEN
Suzanne Ellis