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Prayer Renews a Loyal Spirit

David had sinned against God. His heart was torn, and his spirit was crushed. He cried to the Lord, saying, “Oh, give me back my joy again. You have broken me” (Psalm 51:8). If you have ever felt close to the Lord, you are familiar with the sadness that comes when that closeness is interrupted. David was pleading for his sins against God to be blotted out. His sorrow and shame were burdens too heavy to bear. “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long” (Psalm 32:3). He had always protected his relationship with God, but when he saw Bathsheba, his loyalty was no more.

Longing to reestablish the joy he once had, David looked to the Lord and pleaded, “Create in me a clean heart” (Psalm 51:10). David was wrestling. He longed for God, but he lusted after sin. In most cases, when someone has unrighteousness and righteousness warring in their soul, they stop praying. Not David. Though he was tempted to withdraw and go silent, he called for help: “Unseal my lips, O LORD, that my mouth may praise you” (Psalm 51:15).

The enemy will try to seal your lips by telling you lies—like that your disobedience is unpardonable, your heart has gone cold, and your life is too sinful. David knew these thoughts were not from God. David praises the Lord by saying, “You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:17). Repentant hearts have always been and will always be irresistible to God.

The enemy will try to convince you there is no reason to pray because God does not exist. Knowing silence is a trap, David declared, “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises” (Psalm 34:1). In the middle of the turmoil, David chose to renew his loyalty through his worship and began drawing near to the Lord.

God bids us to come to Him freely, and He will embrace us, not unlike a child seeking and receiving the warm embrace of their father. All of David’s victories, even the one where he needed to reestablish his loyalty, were a result of his drawing close to the Lord.

Just for you: The enemy flees, and his schemes fall apart when you lift your hands and your voice to the Lord.