Taking Out the Garbage
 

Taking Out the Garbage

Read Psalm 51:1-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
-Psalm 51:10 (NRSV)

WHEN I walked into the kitchen, I saw a bag of garbage waiting to be taken out. As I performed the task, I considered how life can become cluttered with a lot of "garbage" - selfish desires, resentments, uncontrolled anger, wrong attitudes, unbecoming actions, harbored guilt - that troubles and hurts us and others deeply. At that point, the garbage within us needs to be taken out.

There is an appropriate time and a proper way to dispose of spiritual garbage that collects in our lives. Many centuries ago, the psalmist wrote about the messiness in his life and heart. He acknowledged its presence and the need to rid himself of it. From the depths of his heart, he cried out, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." That prayer still works for us.

When garbage accumulates in the heart, God offers us a way to dispose of it so that serious consequences do not follow.

Howard Coop (Kentucky, USA)
Prayer
Loving God, remove the garbage from our lives and cleanse our hearts. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Thought for the Day
Each day, God offers us a clean, new heart.