Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion. Psalm 51:1 HCSB
Today I received a call from my son's school (last day of school) through a phone call he made to me from his own phone. The call was regarding a piece of equipment that I had dropped off the day before. Only the school official on the other end of the phone conversation didn't have said equipment in her possession and proceeded to accuse me of lying only because she didn't have it right at that moment. She proceeded to explain that it would cost me $30 if I didn't bring the equipment in today. I hate to admit it, but my first response was anger Tears sprung to my eyes and rolled down my cheeks as I frantically tried to explain my perspective on the situation. The person to whom I spoke was unforgiving, insisting they had received nothing from me and there would be a monetary consequence. This repeated a few times until I finally yelled into the phone that I would bring them their money because I didn't have the equipment either, I'd already dropped it off. I didn't wait for a response and proceeded to rather dramatically hang up the phone (because I am, after all, a fairly dramatic person). I say this to my shame. Instead of looking for a solution I resorted to histrionics; instead of responding with grace I responded with vengeance.
Once my husband intervened and got the issue resolved (he seems to always have the cooler head in these situations) I sat down to have my quiet time. ( I also say this to my shame because it's when I'm hurt that I should run to God first!!!) The first thing I read was Psalm 51:1 "Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion blot out my rebellion." I thought about my own need to ask Papa God for forgiveness for what had just happened. I may have had righteous cause for my anger at first but when I allowed that anger to consume me, it became sin. As I experienced the words of King David wash over me I found myself grateful that His forgiveness for me wasn't predicated on my own ability to perform; I fail every time!!!!! His forgiveness of my sin is based solely on who He is!!!!!!
God knows our frame. For some this is a scary notion. It need not be. Sin is common to us all: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) But the good news of the gospel doesn't end there. Scripture continues: "and (all) are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24) Because God knows our frame He knows that we all need redemption without exception. And He provides it through faith in Jesus Christ. He forgives me based on His character and His provision of a substitutionary sacrifice that makes my character "just as if I'd never sinned" (justified).
As I sit taking in David's request I revel in thankfulness for God's character that works in my life every day despite all of my flaws. And I'm able to forgive the person who wronged me based on that character. Today I leave you with part of David's prayer from Psalm 51, a prayer I know I need to pray every day of my life.
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.
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.
