October 6
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PSALM 51 PRAYER FOR A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar. – Psalm 51:9-19
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I come to you to ask forgiveness for all my sins
I have been sucked into the corruption of this world’s system
Do not turn your back on me my Lord; cleanse my heart
Give me a new and pure one, so I can have a brand-new start
Grant me a hunger and desire to love you more than anyone else
Keep me away from the pleasures that I so easily give in
Help me to make you first in my life so I can have peace
Bring me back the joy I once had when I believed in Jesus Christ.
Deliver me from the sins that have been passed on to me
Restore me to the joy that I once had and free me from being bitter
I will praise you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength forever
Have pity on me Lord, I want to be granted life eternal.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for a Christian to recognize their brokenness and have a contrite heart?