Approaching God With A Clean Heart

O LORD, hear my plea for justice.

Listen to my cry for help.

Pay attention to my prayer,

for it comes from honest lips.

Declare me innocent,

for you see those who do right.

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.

You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. . . .

Because I am righteous, I will see you.

When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.

Psalm 17:1-3, 15

Like a child who longs to see his father after he has been away for a while, David longed to see God face-to-face. He wanted to thank and praise God who had rescued him. David knew God was holy and that all who enter his presence must come with an honest heart and an upright life. In this prayer, David promised to follow God’s ways and even asked the Lord to examine his heart. David had certainly sinned before, even murdering an innocent man. But David didn’t hide his sins; he confessed them to God. He asked God to cleanse him from sin so that he could enter the Lord’s presence with praise.

Ask God to cleanse you from sin as you enter God’s presence.

• Dear Lord, test my thoughts and cleanse me of my sin . . .