“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:11 NIV
David prays against his great fear of being cast from the presence of the Lord. Is it a realistic fear? Is God like that? When David was just a boy, King Saul had sinned and rebelled against God. Shortly after this, the Prophet Samuel had come to his father’s farm, directing that all Jesse’s sons appear before him: “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power . . . Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul . . .” (1 Samuel 16:13-14). The Spirit of God had left Saul and come upon David. David was terrified that in his sin this would happen to him too – that God’s Spirit would desert him. But he repents and trusts God for the answer to his prayer. This was in the Old Testament when the Holy Spirit came upon specific individuals at specific times. In the New Testament, Paul cautions us not to “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). David resolves to declare God’s grace in verses 13-15. He looks forward to the answer to his prayer and how he will serve God. Restored and forgiven, he sees himself once again serving the Lord, teaching, singing, praising. David is not bargaining with God, but anticipating and promising to God what he will do. As new creations in Christ Jesus, may we not grieve the Holy Spirit, but in a repentant lifestyle, walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, restored and forgiven to the glory and honour of His name.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Holy Spirit, help us not to grieve You; help us to walk in power each day.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord Jesus Christ, as Your new creations, may we not grieve the Holy Spirit, but in a repentant lifestyle, walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit, restored and forgiven to the glory and honour of Your name. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
John 19:1-16a
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