Have you ever felt the suffocating weight of sin so deeply that it invaded your thoughts, gnawed at your confidence, and questioned your very identity? Perhaps you felt a heavy ache in your chest, a turmoil that robbed you of restful sleep, or a paralyzing fear of exposure that made you feel utterly alone. Sin doesn’t merely violate God’s commandments—it wreaks havoc on our souls and our bodies.
That’s where we find David in Psalm 51.
This prayer comes after he summoned Bathsheba, committed sexual sin, got her pregnant, arranged the death of her husband, and was confronted by Nathan. It’s a dark moment. If you’ve never read 2 Samuel 11, take a minute to read it now—it gives this psalm its full force.
David was crushed by what he’d done. He wasn’t blaming anyone. He wasn’t hiding anymore. He wasn’t pretending he had it all together. He was at rock bottom, calling out for mercy.
Look at the words of the psalm: “blot out,” “wash me,” “cleanse me” (vv.1–2). This was a man desperate to be clean again. David recognized the truth we must all come to know: He was powerless to repair the destruction he had caused. No number of self-help strategies, disciplined routines, Instagram reels, or motivational speeches can purify the heart. Only God possesses that power.
In this vulnerable state, David did what many of us find difficult: He unveiled the entire truth of his condition. No excuses, no downplaying of his faults, no “God, I’m sorry…but you know how stressed I was.” He laid himself bare before the Almighty, exposing the raw depravity of his sin.
This is where freedom begins.
We often carry secret sins—resentment, pride, lying, lust, comparison, anger—and pretend we’re fine because we’re afraid of being exposed. But the fear of being found out keeps us chained. Sin flourishes in the shadows, and the longer we conceal it, the more oppressive its weight becomes.
David shows us a better way. After confessing honestly, he prayed, “God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (v.10).
This is an appeal for profound restoration. Only God, through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, can achieve this for us. It isn’t about willpower, podcasts, or new habits.
Pause for a moment and reflect on these questions: Am I carrying sin that no one knows about? Am I exhausted from pretending to be okay? Do I need God to wash me clean and rebuild what’s broken?
Today can be the day you step into the light. Today could mark the end of your running. Today can be a day of heartfelt prayer like David’s—infused with honesty, humility, and unwavering confidence in God’s mercy. Today could also be the day that you invite others into your life to hold you accountable. The life of a Christ follower is not meant to be lived alone but in community.
Cry out to God. Tell Him everything. Ask Him to cleanse you.
He restored David; He can restore you.
Written by Jameson Baker
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101 thoughts on "Psalms 50–54"
My husband is struggling with anxiety and depression. Its effecting the whole family and i am scared for the future. I pray to God for profound restoration not through new cousellors, habits and self help but through you Lord Jesus. You are a God that saves!!
Lord forgive me! Amen
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Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and my accountability partner, my sponsor, my friends who understand what ive been through.
Amen. I am guilty of the sins spoken of today. Resentment. Anger. Pride. All the “hidden” sins. Asking God for forgiveness and mercy and to change my heart.
Purify me, Lord!
It brings me comfort to know that the sins we carry are covered by our God and the sacrifice of his son. I had such a hard time for so long understanding why God would even love me after all the horrible sins I had committed. But through this past year I have finally accepted the gift of grace and mercy I have been given and have been renewed by the lord and what he’s doing in my life. I continue to struggle with some things I know I need to lay down and give to God. This reading today is encouraging me to let God have these things. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Psalm 51:17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.51.17.ESV
Sisters, please pray for our family! My husband had his review at work today, and they let him go. This came as a complete shock. His boss has not liked him from the beginning, maybe because he was a believer? We have our daughter getting married, too, this year. I know God is sovereign and works it all out for good. In a way,I can’t wait to see what He’s planned, and in another moment I panic! Please pray the Lord will open a new door for him soon. Thank you all so much!!
Marina, I am so sorry for the way that review ended! Praying God opens a door for your husband that will be a better environment for him. We serve a good and mighty God and I join with you in the expectancy of sonething good coming out of this. Keep believing, sister, and thank you for sharing!❤
Thank you so much dear sister! You have been so faithful in praying for other needs I’ve had. God bless you. I’m so thankful for this community!
Precious Marina—I know that this was a huge blow to your family. Keep reminding yourself (and your hubby) that our awesome God has you in the palm of His hand and He will carry you. Praying that God will give you peace! A better job is right around the corner. ❤️
Joining CEE GEE and LYNNE in prayer for you and your husband, Marina. My husband and I have both experienced unexpected job loss in years past and the shock of it catches you off guard – but not our God! This was no surprise to Him. Praying as you both catch your breath from the unexpected change, and then get busy keeping your hearts, minds and eyes open for what God has planned.
Coming to mind just now, How Great Is Our God, Chris Tomlin (Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves, 2004).
Prayers that something wonderful and better comes from this. And that God directs and guides him as he looks, and finances are not worry, but unexpected miracles unfold in your favor.
I’m so sorry. Have prayed that you and your husband would know the hand of the Lord in this difficult situation, that His peace would surround you and encourage your hearts knowing He is Sovereign over all and that the right opportunities would be available to provide all you need ❤️
Lord, cleanse me and set me anew. I beg you to refresh the dark season with your beautiful light. Only You. I pray for your light not only to shine onto me but all around as this darkness of evil tries to invade everything everywhere. I pray for safe keeping of all your children of the world. You created us all with intention and purpose and know each of our names. I beg for your mercy and protection from all the evil around us. Amen
This devotional was just what I needed today. I unintentionally hurt someone with my words, and I have felt guilty about it since. I have prayed to God for forgiveness, but I haven’t apologized to the individual. She is in my mom’s group, and I hope this Thursday I will have he opportunity to do that.
I really needed this today. Amen! David s
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I’m late today due to technical difficulties! I just want to share about Ps 51. This Psalm I pray almost every day. Just asking God to keep me clean and forgive me of any hidden sins. It is not so much because I don’t think Jesus has redeemed me but I know that I need His help everyday to do and say the right things. I just know I need Jesus everyday! I cannot live a life pleasing to God on my own! I’m so grateful and thankful for God’s love, mercy, and grace!
Praying for all!
That is wonderful Cheryl, and when you get to heaven you will see HOW powerful it was!!
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PTL!
Sister Shes
WOW! What a wallop this morning!
“Am I carrying sin that no one knows about? Am I exhausted from pretending to be okay? Do I need God to wash me clean and rebuild what’s broken?”
GOLLY! Am I ever. Called out. Chastened. Convicted.
But then, the writer repeats, “today can be the day”, “today can be the day”, “today can be the day”, “today can also be the day…”
Father, I pray for the strength of submission.
My rise & recovery from sin is more than a gentle conversation with myself.
It is also action & accountability.
Honesty & humility.
Praise & petition.
A broken spirit & contrite heart
You will not despise, but redeem.
Lord, in Your heaven.
May it be so!
(heart!)
Thank you Gwineth for that!
Beautiful, Gwineth! ❤
Thank you for these words❤️
I was a selp-help fanatic. I knew I needed help just not where to find it. Then I was invited back to church. Invited to BSF (Bible study international). I found myself on my knees begging for forgiveness on how I had been living. And then the process started. At one point I was hurt so badly that I fell away for awhile. But God called me back. Gave me understanding.
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Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
❤
Years and years ago someone gave me a devotional by Joni Erickson Tada. One of the entries was about offering a “sacrifice of praise.” I confess that I usually read devos and forget what they said by the evening, but this one by Joni has stayed with me all these years. To offer praise even when it’s hard…to be grateful even when crushed in spirit…to give Him worship when I feel like I have nothing left to give is actually the very thing He wants from me.
She is an amazing woman of God! Through her pain and suffering, she has written so many books of honoring the Lord! Not only paralyzed from a diving accident since the age of 17, she has now been through 2 bots of cancer, and suffers from chronic pain! Which she says is harder than being a quadriplegic. I don’t see how she does it, it is only through our Lord and Savior and his strength alone, she will tell you!
❤
Celebrate Recovery was huge for me. Especially when I took the 12 step study. I’m out of time, but must say this is a great ministry for all of us (ME) who have hurts, habits and hang ups because we (I) all have them! And when you do your inventory of your life and actually read it out-loud to your sponsor, is so relieving! Sigh….I want to say more, but have to get to work. YES,… we weren’t meant to walk this life alone. There are no lone rangers in the Kingdom of God.
no lone rangers!!! ❤
WARREN WIERSBE NKJV Study Bible notes on Psalm 51:11-
“Today the Spirit abides with believers forever (John 14:15–18), but God’s children can lose the Spirit’s effective ministry by grieving Him (Eph. 4:30–32), lying to Him (Acts 5:1–3), and quenching Him by deliberate disobedience (1 Thess. 5:19). The phrase ‘uphold me’ in Psalm 51:12 refers to David’s own spirit, as in verse 10.
A ‘steadfast spirit’ (v. 10) is one that is not in bondage but is free and yielded to the Spirit of God, who ministers to and through our own spirit (Rom. 8:14–17).”
Romans 8:14-17—
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
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Re: Psalm 51, Jameson Barker says,
“This is an appeal for profound restoration. Only God, through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, can achieve this for us. It isn’t about willpower, podcasts, or new habits.”
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SONG SHARE:
Give Us Clean Hands · Chris Tomlin
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Oops! Forgot to post the partial lyrics to song above:
We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh, Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh, Lord we cast down our idols
So give us clean hands
And give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
And give us clean hands
And give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh, God let us be
A generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, oh, God of Jacob
Oh, God let us be
A generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, oh, God of Jacoby
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just found this song:
Zach Williams – The Potter (Nothing Is Wasted) (Lyric Video)
Partial Lyrics:
Sometimes life
Can take more than it gives
Can steal your confidence
Til questions are all you have
Sometimes hurt
Can feel like you’re in hell
Leave you just a broken shell
What can God do with that
Whatever you’re facing
If you feel like you’re breaking
He is picking up the pieces
He is remaking
He’s molding your story
Like clay He’s reshaping
And in the hands of the potter
Nothing is wasted
…
He uses it all
…
Whatever you’re facing
If you feel like you’re breaking
He is picking up the pieces
He is remaking
He’s molding your story
Like clay He’s reshaping
And in the hands of the potter
Nothing is wasted
Incredible song. “So give us clean hands
And give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another”
❤That’s the part I sing over and over!
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I just noticed an error;I don’t know where the ‘y at the end of Jacob came from!
I love this verse, “God’s faithful love is constant.” Psalm 52:1b
The heaviness, frustration, discouragement and weariness that carrying my sin brings so grieves my heart. The timing of these Psalms today and the authors direct, honest words to call us to account are by no mistake. My heart feels heavy this morning in the sin struggles I have and am asking the Lord for forgiveness, strength to pursue righteousness and a pure heart. Psalm 51:1-2 & 10 is my prayer today.
Heavenly Father, I’m sorry Lord. Have mercy on me; O God according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquities and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen
Thank you for praying for my Mom. She finally had surgery yesterday, without complications is recovering and likely discharged today.
Oops…posted that twice. Sorry.
Praying for her recovery, praise God for a good surgery.
So thankful and praying for healing! ❤
The heaviness, frustration, discouragement and weariness that carrying my sin brings so grieves my heart. The timing of these Psalms today and the authors direct, honest words to call us to account are by no mistake. My heart feels heavy this morning in the sin struggles I have and am asking the Lord for forgiveness, strength to pursue righteousness and a pure heart. Psalm 51:1-2 & 10 is my prayer today.
Heavenly Father, I’m sorry Lord. Have mercy on me; O God according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquities and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen
Thank you for praying for my Mom. She finally had surgery yesterday, without complications is recovering and likely discharged today.
Where would I be without the unfailing love of God??? …Without mercy, without grace, without forgiveness.
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I praise God that He is the God who sees, yet He forgives. He is so merciful and just. I thank Him for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit that convicts my heart and moves me to repentance.
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I Praise Him for Psalm 103:10-12 –
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
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I will praise your name, LORD for it is good.
—
So much to be thankful for today!
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Oh this is so good. Unless we see our wrongs as the horrible, awfulness AGAINST GOD, we truly won’t “get it!” I think we so often say it in a quick, repentful way, but unless we really recognize it, define it, hurt because of it—and know how utterly dirty it makes us- we can’t move forward with a new heart. When I talk of “my old ways” with a hint of “missing the good days” or “oh that was fun times” maybe a little bragging- then I’m still not seeing it for what it is- wrong. Horrible wrong against the one who is my Lord. For it is better for those that don’t know, but when you claim to know God, but still live in the state of ongoing sin, which yes, I get that we can for some time, but when the Spirit convicts us, and we ignore it, that is ongoing Pride and rebellion. That is when sisters should helpfully and gently call out what is happening, like a Jonathon. (or was it Nathan?)
My past makes me sorrowful, and shameful as it should (or my present). I was talking to my sister about this last night. When do you correct and guide a sister. We are all on our own path, at our own speed. But our desire should be “create in me a clean heart” and be in fellowship with God “infused with honesty, humility, and unwavering confidence in God’s mercy!” Accountability. It is actually a wonderful thing. And we sisters should want and expect accountability?! I think it is growth. I am so thankful for God breaking me down. And so thankful for elders speaking to me in a concerned and corrective way. Did I like it at the time, no- but was it just what I needed, yes.
Our small groups are where this can happen. Open and honest dialogue and confession. Satan will try to keep you isolated and proud, and full of excuses!
❤
God is a restoring God! He
Yes, I know He is, He is so good! I try to use that word a lot in jail ministry. For he can and will restore when we come humbly to him with a repentive heart. Oh, He longs for that. Rock bottom is a good place to be. Not at the time of course. We call them our butterflies, because yes, they are in a prison and dark place…but OH the WORK God can do there. Forming, strengthening, renewing…everything about us-transforming us!! We don’t even realize it but he is making us into a beautiful butterfly…to fly instead of crawl! We will see the whole world differently!! And the world will see us totally differently with our beauty,brightness, and freedom!
The substance and enormity of David’s sin – it far outweighs my little old sins, right? Wrong.
Romans 3:22b-23 NKJV
22 … For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
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Acts 3:19 NIV
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord
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Psalm 51:15-17
15
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
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Lord, praying for awareness of You and of sin in our lives. Praying for that same awareness in the lost and in our prodigals, for repentance for all. Praying for healing of mental health challenges for all, especially young adults and teens, that they would feel Your love, see they can have hope in You, and be rescued by You.
Feeling this today. Appreciate the challenge and reality of your thoughts ❤️
Yes Searching! Praying along with you!
Amen.
Amen! ❤
“Cry out to God. Tell Him everything. Ask Him to cleanse you.” It feels like I’ve been doing a lot of crying out to God lately. The world feels heavy and I feel alone! In this, God has been meeting me where I am. Quietly remind me that He SEES me. I am not alone. I am not unloved. I am not unworthy. All because of Jesus’ sacrifice! Thank you Lord!
Indeed you are not alone! You are surrounded by the company of the Heavenly Host as well as all the she’s here
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Susan, I love that you are not believing satan’s lies and that you are also speaking truth back to yourself!
❤️
I found myself in this spot a few years ago. I did a great study on my own with Kristi McClelland called “Jesus and Women”. You can find it on Lifeway. It was so good and brought me from a place of shame to a place of honor and really gave me a good understanding of who I am in Christ and how he sees you. You are loved!
I love that study Tami. It absolutely changed me to the core as well
Hugs, Susan! ❤
Amen!
Amen!!
Amen!!!
Amen!
Amen❤️
Amen
Call on me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor me.
Thank you Lord!
Thank you all for your prayers. My mom was discharged from the hospital yesterday and was able to return directly to her facility. Thankful for the caring and compassionate hospital staff and social worker that God gave us to work with her. Praying for continued healing and safety for her going forward, as well as safe travel for me as I return home today. God is so good ❤️
That’s great news. Praying for safety in your travels.
Praise the Lord for the good news, and answer to prayer!
Praise the Lord for His hand on your Mom. Good news is of great encouragement :)
Great answered prayers! Hope your travel home was uneventful! ❤
Anen
Good morning ladies. So many things stood out to me today, but I’ll stick with Psalm 50 verse 14 sacrifice thank offerings to God fulfill your vowels to the most high and call on me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will honor me.
To think that our thankfulness is a sacrifice to God, hit me today because I’m not always grateful. My husband started the new year with the idea of texting each other daily two things we were grateful for. We have kept it up, but I’ll be honest when things are not going my way, sometimes I don’t feel like being grateful. Sometimes I’d rather be kicking and screaming, then feeling gratitude. This verse is shifting my heart and making me realize that I don’t have to feel anything to be grateful. Sacrifices aren’t meant to be easy, or they wouldn’t be sacrifices.
Journaling about gratitude pulls me out of a pit. It’s wonderful you and your husband are so intentional about it every day. Me, my mom and sister were daily texting something we were grateful for during Covid.
“Sacrifices aren’t meant to be easy, or they wouldn’t be sacrifices.”
This is so true.
Indeed. There is a wonderful quote by Ann Voskamp that I keep on my refrigerator that says “everyone gets to decide how happy they want to be …..because everyone gets to decide how grateful they are willing to be.”
Oh, that is so good! Karen, thanks for sharing Ann’s quote.
“Sacrifices aren’t meant to be easy, or they wouldn’t be sacrifices.” ❤
This reminds me so much of who I was before I truly let the Lord take over my life. I had secret sin and the burden of carrying that all the time was crushing. Sisters, if this resonates with you, be honest before the Lord. It’s so worth it.
Psalm 50:14-15 (NLT)
“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.”
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One would think it should not be a sacrifice to be thankful. Yet I easily fall into the “I deserve it” mindset. When in reality what I deserve is God’s wrath and should say as Paul did,”O what a wretched [wo]man I am!” (Rom. 7:24).
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Agreeing with Tina below. Self examination and humble confession is a daily need.
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KIMBERLY Z – praying that your second interview goes well.
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TRACI GENDRON and LYNN FROM AL – joining you in prayers for your friends.
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WENDY B – continued prayers for your mom.
Amen Kelly!
Sacrifices of praise always remind me of David in 1 Chronicles 21:24 when he’s buying the threshing floor of Ornan and states: “I will not take for the Lord what is your, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
When we praise the Lord in the midst of heartache and trials, it keeps us focused on and honors Him.
❤
Amen! I am desperate for you Lord ❤️
Through this day of Lent,
shape my worship,
deepen my repentance,
steady my trust,
and sustain my soul.
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“But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God” 52:8
Amen!
I love that picture of being a flourishing olive tree in the house of the Lord!
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David was crushed by his sin, not blaming anyone else, not hiding, not pretending he had it all together – this, I think, is what made him a man after God’s own heart. Being willing to be honest and helpless before the Lord for forgiveness when we sin (instead of self-help strategies, trying harder, or motivational speeches) is our only way to cleaning and freedom.
“Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion.”
Thank You, Father, for Your amazing grace, love and compassion! Help me to immediately run to You first for forgiveness and cleaning. Amen.
There are many words in the Bible to express our utter disgust of ourselves when we fall short or sin, but these words of David’s in Psalm 51, really does hit the mark!
It truly is up there (#1) with confessing from the heart, like, seriously as though your life depended on it!
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If truth be told, ones life does depend on it! I would say constantly!
I don’t think there is a day that does go by that I do not sin, okay, not to the Psalm 51 magnitude, but by golly I get close, in my temper tantrums, or the sometimes ‘not so very nice’ thoughts that might go through my head!
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I found myself remembering the words spoken on a Sunday service..
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Most merciful God, I have sinned against you in word thought and deed, by what I have done and in what I have failed to do.
I have not loved you with my whole heart, nor loved my neighbour as I should,
I am truly sorry, and humbly repent..
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Create in me a pure heart, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me..
This could honestly be my daily prayer..
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Do not banish me from your oresence:
do not take your Holy Spirit away from me..
where would I go, what would I do with your helping hand..
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My sacrifice is a humble spirit O God..
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I will always thank you Lord God for what you have done,
I will forever proclaim your goodness..
You are my helper and defender, You, Lord God, help me get this life right..
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Singing praises to you O Lord, my God..
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BUT GOD.
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AMEN.
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Happy Tuesday covered in love and prayers, always..❤️
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Thank you for that reminder of corporate confession. I grew up Lutheran and we recorded something very similar.
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Yes, Sister Tina…
Every Sunday.
Each day.
A prayer of confession.
A song of praise.
Given to God.
By Him, absolution.
Our daily bread.
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Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Amen!
Amen