Have you ever struggled with sin in your life? If you are like the rest of us, everyone who lives and breathes, then I know you have. How many times have you struggled to stop and repent of a sin only to find yourself back there again? It can be the most heartbreaking, discouraging place you could find yourself and yet we find ourselves there more often than we would like to admit.I completely understand why Paul in heartbreak asked the question, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24).

By the way, I want to share something with all those Christians who are always looking up to someone else and thinking I will never be able to be as good as them. That person you are looking up too still has sins that they are struggling to overcome. They are not perfect nor can they be. If we could be good enough then we wouldn’t need Jesus to die for us. When it comes to sin we are all in the same boat. We are all sinners in need of a Savior who can accomplish what we cannot (Rom. 3:23; Isa. 64:6).

 

David was a man who knew the sting and heartbreak of being overcome by sin. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, gotten her pregnant, and killed her husband in an attempt to cover it up. Lust got control of David and led him down a path that was almost unstoppable. If God had not reached out to David through Nathan, who knows what would have become of him. In Psalm 51, we have David’s prayer for forgiveness and I want you to reflect on a few points that I hope will help you see how to keep moving forward.

 

First, I want you to notice the word “me” in Psalm 51.

David appeals to God for his mercy and grace. He takes responsibility for his sins and he knows that he needs Gods help to overcome them. If we will follow his example we can have the same results.

 

Second, I want you to notice what David commits to do with his forgiveness.

He promises to take his forgiveness and use it to convince others to return to God. He promises to teach, to sing, to praise, and most importantly to give God what he really wants. David knew that the key to having a pure and clean heart was to give it to God and let him deal with it.

 

How can you keep going, keep living for Jesus when everything goes wrong? Give him your life and your heart. I promise you he will not let you down.

 

Psalm 51:10–12

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”