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40 DAYS OF LENT: DAY #10
WORD OF TODAY: Psalm 51:10-11 (Revised Coverdale of the 2019 BCP)
Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away for thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
THOUGHTS ON THE WORD:
Consider this simple question, “do you desire a clean heart?” As David makes his cry unto the LORD for forgiveness, he cries out to God to make him a clean heart, and that God would renew a right spirit within him.
A clean heart and a right spirit belongs to the one that desires to store up treasurers in heaven, and does not find value in the treasurers in the things of the world. When we open ourselves to be made clean, we may find ourselves in the refiner’s fire. Impurities must be removed, and at times the exposure to the heat is difficult to endure. But we need not endure it alone, for the Spirit walks with us to encourage us through the fire that purifies us and cleanses our hearts and renews in us a right spirit.
Take some time today and consider the refiner’s fire you have faced, and how God brought you through it. Consider the ones around you who might be in the refiner’s fire now. How might you reach out and make them your alms-giving today? How might you be light to them, surrendering something to their benefit? A right spirit is one who loves their neighbor as Christ has loved them. Consider your heart, consider your spirit-do you cry out to God as David did? How might you make a more truthful cry unto Almighty God to make in you a clean heart, and a right spirit?