A Prayer for Every Christian
Scripture Reading — Psalm 51:10-13
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
—Psalm 51:10
“It happened to me because I did not think it could happen to me.” That’s what someone said to me after getting involved in a relationship that almost destroyed his marriage. He never thought anything like that could ever happen to him.
He’s not alone. It’s easy to think we are immune to sin and temptation. Many of us go to church and try to live right. Sometimes we even shake our heads when others fall into sin, and more than one Christian has said, “That will never happen to me.” But that’s when we become extremely vulnerable. Paul warns against that when he says, “Watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
We would do well to make David’s prayer in verses 10-11 our daily prayer. No matter how strong we might think we are or however good our intentions might be, in our own strength we are no match for Satan. David was speaking from experience when he prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”
Take some time over the next few days to memorize that prayer, or write it out and put it on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. Pray it often. Only with the Holy Spirit do we have the power to resist temptation.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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