Scripture:
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Observation:
After being caught in his sin, David is broken. He feels a million miles away from God and he is sorry for what he did. He wants to get things back the way they used to be; when he was joyful and he felt close to God. He remembers the moment of his salvation, in David’s case, when God rescued him multiple times when fleeing his enemies. It was in the moments of God’s salvation work that David felt most close to God.
Application:
When I read this passage of scripture the first thing in my mind was the lyrics to an old Boyz to Men song… “Can we go back to the days our love was strong? Can you tell me how a perfect love goes wrong? Can somebody tell me how to get things back The way they used to be? Oh, God give me the reason I’m down on bended knee I’ll never walk again, until you come back to me I’m down on bended knee”. Even though these lyrics were written about a love relationship that had gone astray, they fit perfectly in today’s scripture. When we find ourselves in a tough spot in our relationship with God, we have two distinct responses. Either we run away in fear or frustration or we run towards Him and desire reconciliation and restoration. David chooses the second and so should we. When I recognize that my sin and disobedience has created a wall in my relationship with God, a good practice is to call out to God for forgiveness and ask Him to make things like they used to be. Now in the Boyz to Men song, like in our lives and relationships, things rarely go back the way they used to be. People have a hard time forgiving and forgetting. But God is different. When we confess our sins, He forgives and removes our sin from us as far as the East is from the West. It’s safe to ask God to make things like they used to be. Remember the moments of joy and salvation and ask Him to take you back there. A handful actions steps:
1. Run to Him when I feel far away, not further away.
2. Ask Him for forgiveness.
3. Ask Him to restore me back the way things used to be.
4. Trust in His restoration power.
Prayer:
Father, when I fail, which is too often, help me run back to you. Remind me of your forgiveness and your power to restore. Take me back to the moments I sensed your presence and remind me that you never let me go. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Thank you Father.