The Prayer of Confession.

Psalm 51 (KJV)

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

This passage, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. I read it once a week or so because sometimes I get drained. Sometimes I feel like sin has settled so deeply into my life that I feel like God can't forgive me, and even if he could, I don't know how to confess it all. This Psalm shows me how, and even why I should pray this way.

First of all, the Great Psalmist, who is also my favorite Bible character, confesses his sin. The great thing about these first few verses is that David doesn't get specific. He uses general terminology and I believe that was God's intention. The fact that it is so vague about the sins that David is confessing makes it so much more relatable for readers like you and me! Verses one through six are his confession. Verses seven through twelve are his begging for God's forgiveness and mercy on his life. This is my favorite part in the passage. The words "Create in me a clean heart, oh God", give me so much hope! I love that I can ask God to renew a right spirit within me. 

The last part of the passage is David stating his reasons for confessing. He is humble and totally broken before God in his sinful state. He states that if God blots out his sin and forgives him that (in summary) God will be glorified. It's such a beautiful concept! 

The fact of it is, none of us can live up to God's standards even after we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. When he blotted out our sins, he included the future sins as well, because he knew that we would still be dwelling in our flesh. This psalm is beautiful and full of hope for someone like me because I am always backsliding. I am unable to live a perfect Christian life. I praise God that I can always come back to this prayer and start over. 

I hope this post was an encouragement to anyone reading it, and more than anything I hope this is your prayer as well! Pray it daily! Ask God to renew a *right* spirit within you before you start your day! 

Your Brother in Christ
Thayne