The world often teaches us that we have to look out for ourselves first and foremost. We are taught to "pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps." The truth is that none of us are strong enough to live life and pull ourselves up independently. We are not all-powerful. Eventually, we will come to the point when we realize that we are in great need of God's power and help because we cannot live life on our own. One of the things we are in great need of is God's kindness because we are lost in our sin without Him.
We read in the Psalms that David fully knew that he needed God's kindness in his life. He particularly knew this when he was confronted with his sin of taking another man's wife as his own. Face-to-face with his sin, he pleaded with the Lord for kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. He knew he was weak, entangled in sin, and in need of God's grace. Here is what he wrote in Psalm 51. "Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins" (verse 1). The rest of this prayer is a plea for God's kindness to him. He knew he was in need and did not shy away from asking for it.
The truth is, David was not the only person in need of God's kindness. We all need God's kindness. We are all sinners in need of a savior. We are all weak in need of God's protection, care, and provision. And when we acknowledge this, we can turn to God and ask for His kindness to be shown to us like David. The beautiful truth is that when we ask for God's kindness, He readily gives it to us. He is ready, willing, and able to show us His kindness when we turn to Him.
Spend some time now talking to God and praying. Acknowledge your need for Him. Tell Him that you need His kindness. Thank Him for the kindness that He makes readily available to every person who turns to Him. After praying, believe that you have been a recipient of that kindness that only God can bring. Allow Him to fill you with His grace.
Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,
teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
