Today was a big day for my husband, who had ankle replacement surgery two weeks ago. He returned to the hospital to have his cast removed, so the surgeon could examine the stiches and determine if it was time to have them removed.
While the surgeon was looking over the condition of Pat’s ankle, he wanted us to know that before the surgery Pat’s ankle was crooked and deformed, and now after the surgery it is no longer. He explained how he cleaned out all that was defective, plus straightened out the ankle, so Pat could look forward to a future of new beginnings, with a perfectly “formed new ankle” to walk without pain, to walk without a limp and to walk straight.
Psalm 51:10 reminds us that we can come to God to create a new, clean heart within us. Although He is all knowing and no secret of the heart is hidden from Him (see Psalm 44:21), Godwants us to acknowledge our shortcomings and wrongdoings. Confession helps to release those things that are hidden in darkness so God can cleanse and make new our heart. God desires truth, because He knows that it is the truth that sets us free (see John 8:32).
It is encouraging to know that we can talk to God any time about anything and know that we will never experience condemnation or rejection. In fact He assures us that as we draw near to Him, He draws near to us (see James 4:8). David wrote in Psalm 51:10 (TPT), “Create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.” Though David had ignored his sin of infidelity and murder for a long time, when he admitted his wrongdoing, God was there, and the weight of his burden was completely lifted.
No matter what you have done, and no matter how bad it was, there is a new beginning for you. 1 Peter 1:9 says “If we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Not only can we be cleansed, we can hope again.
Not only can we trust God to take away our sins of the past, but we can also look ahead with new perspective.
Not only can we enjoy new beginnings, we can “walk straight” one step at a time.
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.—Proverbs 4:25 TPT