Do Not Cast Me From Your Presence
“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.”
Psalm 51:10–11
There is nothing worse as a believer than when you deliberately, willfully sin—and then sense the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in your life. In today’s Scripture, a brokenhearted David cries out to the Lord, “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.” That’s a good prayer for us too when we find ourselves in a similar situation.
It’s time to freely confess our sins to the Lord, receive His boundless grace and forgiveness, and then invite the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh. And let’s ask God to keep us from disobeying Him, even when the shorter, easier route seems so tempting. Today is the day to keep your heart pure, your spirit bright, and your conscience clear. Because no sin, no transgression, is worth risking the nearness of God’s wonderful Spirit.
Thank You, Lord, for sending the Comforter to be with me forever. What an astounding thought to realize that I carry the Creator of all things within me wherever I am, wherever I go. Help me to live in a way that causes Your Spirit joy rather than grief. I praise You for this Companion and Counselor in my life.
Weak Woman, Strong God
Dr. Jean Sutherland can answer this question from personal experience; she has leaned on the Lord through three bouts of aggressive cancer (and treatments) that have significantly altered her life, abilities, appearance, and even the way she eats and speaks. Dr. Sutherland joins the podcast to share how God has sustained her through suffering and taught her to rely on his strength in her weakness.
