Cleanse Me From Hidden Faults – Psalm 19 Part 3

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Psalm 19 (Click Link)

12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14 NLT)

These verses are really important to me. I know there are sins lurking in my heart, hidden faults that will lead me to thoughts and words, to attitudes and actions, that will cause me to stumble on the pathway of life. They’re in me and they are only waiting for me to become resentful, or judgmental, or for me to begin to make excuses for my self-centeredness. When I begin to cater to my selfish self, my “I deserve better than that” self, the lurking sins and hidden faults spring into action and I stop thinking and behaving like the Beloved Child of My Gracious Father that I am.

It requires on my part that I make every effort to maintain God Awareness. When I’m not God-Aware, I can quickly become critical and judgmental of others. I can develop a “poor me” attitude and feel sorry for myself that things aren’t going so well, or think that I’m better than someone else, or “Why can’t you people learn to drive? Did you get your driver’s license at Walmart?” It so quickly escalates, you know? You do know what I’m talking about, don’t you? I hope it’s not just me!?

When I am God-Aware, these lurking sins and hidden faults wither in the light of truth! When I am God-Aware, I catch them more quickly and can confess and repent before they take control of my thoughts and attitude. So I ask David’s question of myself every day: “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?” And I make David’s prayer my own every day: “Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me!” 

I’d like to invite you to join me in getting the hidden sins of our hearts out into the light of God’s truth and grace and love. And in quickly confessing them when they show themselves and quickly receiving cleansing from our hidden faults. To do it takes God-Awareness and a deep reverence for God’s Better Way to Live! Are you with me?

Prayer:

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NLT) For Jesus’ sake, Amen.