Praying Through the Psalms

Praying Through the Psalms
Psalm 51
Pastor Miles
August 18, 2013

Confession makes me true in my experience what God already knows.

1. Lord, I have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. (Psalm 51:1-6 NIV)

- taking responsibility for my own sin.
- all sin is against God. My sin offends God.

2. Lord, Forgive me.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. (Psalm 51:7-9 NIV)

3. Lord, renew me.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12 NIV)

- we need to be sorry not just for the wrong things that we have done, but also the fit things that we have done for the wrong reasons.

4. Lord, I will worship you.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:13-17 NIV)

- worship is bringing your broken and contrite heart before God.
- God has already provided His full and complete sacrifice for our sin.

Lord I have sinned. Forgive me. Renew me.


Lionel