Psalm 51 Prayer

Holy God to whom all praise is due,

We are so grateful for your mercy and grace offered to this world.  Thank you for the gift of Jesus to us - our redeemer and salvation.  Thank you for the Holy Spirit that lives within us and guides us to all Truth.  Thank you that by the blood of Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and set free to live the Abundant Life you call us to.  Have mercy on us, your People and your Church, according to your unfailing love and great compassion.  Blot out our transgressions and iniquities and cleanse us from our sins against you.  You desire faithfulness and wisdom; let me know joy and gladness as you hide your face from our sins.  Create in each of us pure hearts, O God, and renew our spirits so they may be steadfast within us.  Do not cast us from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from us, but restore to us the joy of your salvation and willing spirits to sustain us.  You are God our Savior and we sing of your righteousness.  You desire a sacrifice of our broken spirits and contrite hearts; help us to allow you to break us so we can be forgiven. Help us to allow you to shine light into the darkest, most hidden places in our lives so that you can bring the Light and Hope of Christ's redemption and joy to those places.  May it please you, O God, to prosper spiritually, emotionally, physically, culturally, and even financially your People and Church - not so we receive the praise or wealth in those areas, but so that you receive the Glory you are due.  Build up the Church so she can be even more fruitful for Kingdom work in this day and age.  Purify our hearts so we can love, honor, and serve you well.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

 Psalm 51

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

    blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity

    and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

    and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

    and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,

    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins

    and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    so that sinners will turn back to you.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

    you who are God my Savior,

    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion,

    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

    in burnt offerings offered whole;

    then bulls will be offered on your altar.