Week Three: Be Renewed with a STEADFAST SPIRIT

Key Passage: Psalm 51:10-12

“10Create 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.”

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)

Psalm 51 is perhaps one of the most beautiful in all the Psalter for its honesty and humility.  God once referred to David as a “Man after my own heart,” but David’s later actions did not square with the heart of God indicated here.  As a matter of fact, we could say David “lost heart” and hence, “acted badly,” referring back to our lesson of week one.

But in Psalm 51, David, having acknowledged his sinful behavior, has recognized that it has caused a tremendous rift between God and himself.  He longs for the heart that beats with God’s heart, when he cries, “Create in me a pure heart, O God.”  David knows that God as creator-God, is the source of all that’s good.  David longs to have a pure heart, and he entreats God to create that in him.  He also pleads with God to “renew a steadfast spirit within him.”  That steadfast spirit is unswerving and unwavering in its devotion and service to God, and David begs to have that kind of heart.

David recognized that God could turn his back on David.  He could cast David out of his presence and remove his Spirit from him.  David pleads for this not to happen.  Instead David prays, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  Restore is to regain that which one has but has lost. 

We are moving to a crucial tipping point in our Be Renewed emphasis.  Like David, we pray for that unwavering and unswerving heart that beats with God’s heart and draws us into His presence.  Soon it will be time to commit ourselves to a Giving Discipleship Journey that will enable us to grow in our generosity and therefore, in our faith.  It’s time for us to be honest and humble as David to Be Renewed with a Steadfast Spirit as we grow in our faith.

Group Discussion

1.       Discuss the characteristics of a “pure heart.”

2.      Discuss David’s request to have God “Renew a steadfast spirit” within him.  First, what is a “steadfast” sprit?  Second, describe one’s life that is motivated by a “steadfast” spirit.

3.       Discuss how having a “steadfast” spirit will help you along the Giving Discipleship Journey.

4.      Describe what “restored joy” looks and feels like.

Personal Reflection

1.       List some attitudes that will change with you when God creates a pure heart in you.

2.      What emotions might you feel if God removed His presence from you?

3.       Likewise, describe the emotions that you might experience if God overwhelmed you with his presence.

4.      How will a “pure” heart and “renewed joy” help you in making your decision in the Be Renewed initiative?

5.      I pray that God will sustain me to: __________________.  Fill in the blank.

Getting Ready for the Week

1.    Monday:  It’s a new week.  How will you approach this week with a “pure heart”?

2.    Tuesday:  Think about ways God has recently restored the joy of His salvation to you?

3.    Wednesday:  Think about how taking a step forward on the Giving Discipleship Journey can help to restore the joy of salvation in you?

4.    Thursday:Pray for your pastors and church leadersto be restored in the joy of salvation today. 

5.    Friday:  Pray for your pastors and church leaders to Be Renewed today.