Psalm 51:1-19 David was called a man after God’s own heart. Yet, he was also a man who committed adultery. He was a man after God’s own heart because he realized he sinned against God and confessed his sin before God and repented of it. God heard David’s cry, and when the life of David was mentioned in Chronicles, his sin of adultery was not mentioned. God not only forgives, but He also forgets. He not only blots out our transgressions, but He also cleanses us. John writes about God’s complete act of forgiveness in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If we turn to God in humbleness of heart after we have sinned and confess our sin with a heart that seeks not to commit that sin again, God cleanses us and empowers us to overcome the next time we are tempted in that area.
God does not stop at forgiving and cleansing. He also empowers us to overcome temptation, and He restores the joy of our salvation. It never ceases to amaze me when I think of God’s extravagant love. Paul writes of his desire that all know the height, the depth, the length and the width of God’s love. The height of God’s love is His grace that enables us to overcome whatever we need to overcome, especially sin. The depth of His love is His forgiveness that reaches into the deepest recesses of our heart to both forgive and cleanse. The length of His love is His mercy that endures forever to all generations. The width of His love is His truth that causes us to live free from bondage. Whenever we speak His truth, walk in His truth and are truthful about our own sin, we experience the boundless width of the freedom of His love.
David experienced the height, the depth, the length and the breadth of the love of God. He made himself available to experience God’s extravagant love the moment he confessed and repented of his sin. The power of confession is that it provides the open door for us to receive the power of God’s love.
Lord, reveal to me today if there is anything I need to confess to You. Help me to always have a heart toward You as I daily am honest with You about my own sin. I want to experience Your extravagant love today.
READ: Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25
