Listen

Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and celebration again; let the bones you crushed rejoice once more. Hide your face from my sins; wipe away all my guilty deeds! Create a clean heart for me, God; put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!

Psalm 51:7-10

Think

These days, there is a lot of talk about hand washing. However, it’s not enough to just pour water on your hands and go along for the ride. You have to be intentional: use soap, scrub your hands well, and do it for at least twenty seconds to kill germs and viruses, reduce the spread of disease, and protect others. This is the kind of cleanliness God provides for our lives.

The psalmist proclaims hope that God can remove evils, reduce the chances of falling into temptation, and protect us with love. He trusts that God will put a clean heart in his being and give him a new and faithful spirit to move forward. God cleanses us for more than twenty seconds. God’s forgiveness is deep and transforming. It is up to us to trust and be intentional in taking the time to repent and seek God’s grace.

Marissa Galván-Valle

Question to Ponder:

How can you be more intentional in seeking to keep your heart pure and your life aligned with God’s heart?

Pray

O God, cleanse my life and create in me a pure heart. Renew my spirit and fill me with the joy of your salvation. Amen.

Go

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

God’s forgiveness fills us with peace.

When you go out, share that peace with others.