“God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. 11 Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. 12 Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!”  Psalms 51:10-12 (THE MESSAGE)

This morning when I woke up, my heart was heavy. I knew why; I was feeling guilty. I had sin in my life. In a moment I will confess all; but first, when you hear what my sin is you might think I’m being too hard on myself. It’s easy to justify our actions and minimize them by making excuses. But sin is sin; and I have sinned.

My sin? Lack of a consistent prayer life; lack of Bible reading; lack of personal time with God; lack of faith. I am a pastor. To whom much is given much is required. God expects more from me than what I have been giving Him. It’s been about six weeks.

Here is my prayer.

V. 10: “God, make a fresh start in me…” – “Father, it’s time to do what is right. I repent of my slothfulness; my unbecomingness a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to start all over. Please help me start all over. I want to be pure; I want to be righteous. I will need your help every day of my life. This is my weakness; the place the devil can distract me. I rely on you.”

V. 10: “shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” – “Father God, out of my sin, help me create a stopping place, then a beginning place for your grace and forgiveness. Today is a new day! My life will never be the same because of your fresh grace, and my hard work and steadfast faithfulness to consistently do as You desire of me.”

V.11: “Don’t throw me out with the trash…” – “Father in my old state of mind I was worthless to you. I don’t want to be as waste to you. I don’t want to be fruitless and be thrown away like the chaff. I desire to be something of great worth to you, and do much good for Your cause. I want to be involved in building your Kingdom.

V. 11: Don’t “fail to breathe holiness in me.” – “Lord, You are holy so I must be holy. I cannot keep from sinning without Your Holy Spirit in my life. I need Your power to help me become holy so that I can stay in Your presence. Breathe into me righteousness, and help me hunger and thirst for it continually. Holy Spirit, refresh me!”

V. 12: “Bring me back from gray exile…” – “Lord help me understand from now on that there are no gray areas, but that I must live exactly like you desire me to live. There is no argument; I must not compare myself with anyone else. You expect of me exactly what You expect of me and I must live up to those expectations. And I can Lord, with Your help. Help me hear from You daily that I may know exactly what Your desire is for my life. It is when I hear from You, and live as You desire me too, that I am made to have great joy and satisfaction.”

V. 12: “put a fresh wind in my sails!” – “Holy Spirit breathe on me and sustain me. Lift me above the choppy waters of life. May my spirit and Your Spirit be in unison and may we soar high together. May I never be brought down low again because of my own making. Keep me pure!”

In Jesus name, Amen.

If you need to pray this for your own life, do it right now.

God bless you!

Gene