Psalm 51:12
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.”
Something ain’t right. I feel off. I have no spiritual energy and I’m just going through the motions. The people around me can sense that something’s awry. “You don’t seem like yourself. Everything okay? What’s going on?”
I open my Bible each morning, but all I see are words. I’m distracted. The Word isn’t speaking to me. Yes, something is definitely bothering me. And the worst part is that I know precisely what it is, but I lack the desire to do anything about it.
This is what guilt and shame from unconfessed sin does to us. It steals our spirit and prevents us from feeling God’s love and presence in our lives.
David felt this way. He had sinned with Bathsheba and had just been confronted by Nathan, the prophet. In Psalm 51, David cries out to the Lord, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation!”
David knew he had screwed up. He knew that he had sinned greatly. And that was weighing on him. He wanted real joy in his life again. So what does he do? He pleads with God. “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Make me willing to obey you!”
Friend, if there’s unconfessed sin in your life, give it over to God today. Talk to Him about it. Ask His forgiveness. Tell Him that you want joy in your life again. And ask Him to give you a willing spirit. The guilt and shame of unconfessed sin will wear us down and create a barrier to God’s blessings.
He is the only One who can restore us to joy and provide the real peace and purpose in our lives. So let David’s prayer in Psalm 51 be our prayer today. And may He give us a willing spirit to obey His Word. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 