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As far as your former way of life is concerned, you were taught to take off the old self, which is corrupted by its deceitful desires, and to be renewed continually in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new self, which has been created to be like God in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:22–24, EHV

I remember growing up singing the liturgical thanksgiving song based on Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” I still can hear the notes and the music rise. Paul was speaking to this as he wrote to the Ephesians. We are not to be driven by the sinful nature born into us, but live in pursuit of the paths where the Holy Spirit guides us. In Christ, we are renewed, and this renewal is a daily occurrence as we awake and look to our Lord for new life. It is a continued recreation of our Lord’s work upon us as He is replacing that old, stony heart with one that beats after Him. Our perfection will be final when we enter into His glory, but that does not prevent us from walking in the holiness He prepares for us. We are made righteous through Him, and He restores us from our errors. This is what our Lord desires for us to know and find comfort in Him so we may rest in His peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.