PRAYING

. . . . For inner holiness!

Purify me . . . and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow . . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me (Psalm 51:7, 10 NASB).

God, forgive us for rationalizing away sin. Forgive us for not forthrightly and humbly saying, “I have sinned. Forgive me. Change me.” We have our own form of penance. It comes so much easier than repentance. Break our hearts. Not only over the sins of the culture, but over our own sin. Despite our efforts to save ourselves, convince us that self-purification is futile. Covering only allows the stains to deepen. Our culture is now convinced that there is no such thing as sin. Popular voices seek to banish the idea. But our hearts tell us differently. Wash us. Make us clean. Do more than that. Deliver us not only from the penalty of sin, but from the power of sin itself. Free us from its grip. May we standup straight and boldly, without shame, and praise Your name. May we not be barely saved, but radically saved. May we not only be free from sin, but free to do righteousness. Free to pray. Free to witness. Free to stand openly for Your cause. Free us from the burden of sin that we might carry the burden of Your glory. Load us down with grace. As You freely forgive us, may we freely forgive others. As You have loved us, may we actively love, even our enemies. What grace! What a miracle of transformation! Change us, O God! Free us, not only from the sins of commission, but free us until we are fee enough to do those things You redeemed us to do. Free us to do righteousness. Amen