Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Psalm 51: 7-11 The Message
The desire for renewal, positive change, and a clean slate comes through in this Psalm of King David. He prayed this prayer after being confronted about his sins of adultery and murder with Bathsheba and her late husband. David was at a very low point in his life, and very aware of his shortcomings, as he wrote these words. Psalm 51 is more of a prayer of confession than anything else.
Yet David never loses his faith in God. He is confident that God can give him a fresh start, in spite of the mess he has made of his life. The final phrase has the ring of desperate authenticity to it: “Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” David wants God to re-create him (David) in His (the Lord’s) image.
I wonder, “How many of us have ever felt like David?” I believe there are many people who believe that they have made a real mess of their lives. I am very certain that there has only been one person who has led a perfect life: Jesus Christ. For the rest of us, there usually is something where we would like a fresh start, or a “do-over.”
The wonderful lesson from this scripture is that God does give us a “Genesis week” when he forgives our sins. Could we imitate David’s faith? Do we believe God can give us a fresh start, in spite of the mess we give him? I hope so. When some people tell themselves that their mess is too big for the Lord, tell them to look at David. His sins had led to the death of an innocent man, and yet the Lord forgave him. Nothing is impossible for God. The Lord who created the universe by bringing order to it’s chaos, can certainly handle our chaos, whether it is stress, anxiety, worry, or some other sin.
Let us remember to focus on what God CAN do, and not on what we can’t do. Ask God to give you a Genesis week in your life. Let Him help you make a fresh start!
Prayer
Creator God,
Thank you, Lord, for loving me, and for offering me a fresh new day. Help me to remember that nothing is too big for You to forgive when I turn my heart over to you. Forgive my sins, and make them white as snow, so that I may be the person you desire for me to be. Then help me to show others the kindness and hope you offer to everyone. I pray this prayer in the name of Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
PS. There will be no devotionals next week, while I am at the ECO National Gathering in Dallas. Look for the daily devotionals to continue on Monday, February 7th.

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