What’s in your heart?

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving-kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2 NKJV
 
This is David’s prayer of repentance. He asked God to forgive him for committing adultery with another man’s wife. He asked God to forgive him for murdering that man.
              
David says to the Lord, “Against You, You only, have I sinned.” All sin is primarily against God. In David’s case it was worse. David abused the power and authority God gave him to commit his sins.
 
David the King of Israel had Bathsheba brought to him. David the leader of God’s army had Uriah sent to the front of the battle. David the man whose son would sit upon the throne of Israel forever ordered his men to withdraw leaving Uriah to be killed. 
   
God rejected the first king of Israel for his sins. Why didn’t God reject David?
 
God never called David a man who is like me. God called David “a man after My own heart.”
 
When God speaks of a man’s heart He is talking about what we think. He is referring to the things that define our character and personality. He is talking about what is really going on inside of us. Our hearts hold secrets only the Lord knows.
                        
David did not minimize or excuse his wickedness. Godly sorrow and genuine repentance filled the secret place of his heart. David knew God would forgive his sin. He did not abuse God’s forgiveness and mercy. He was humbled by it.
 
We have control over the things that are in our hearts. David chose to seek God and to know Him. David chose to humble himself before God’s mighty hand.
 
How can we grow closer to God? How can we know the Lord better?
 
Growing closer to the Lord begins with a desire to grow closer to Him. We can know God better by cultivating a desire in our hearts to know Him better.
 
Ask God to put a desire in your heart to grow closer to Him. Ask the Lord to put a desire in your heart to know Him better. Ask Jesus to form His heart in you today. Ask Him to grant the desires of your heart!
 
You will sin. We all do. Do not let the devil use your sin to draw you away from Jesus. Let the Lord use your sins to form His heart in you. Do not abuse the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy. Thank God for His grace. Humble yourself before His mighty hand!
 
Jesus pours out mercy and grace to all who call out to Him out of a sincere desire to know Him. Jesus will Blot out your transgressions. He will wash away your iniquity and cleanse you from your sin if godly repentance and genuine sorrow are in your heart!
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