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Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:12, ESV

As we read through Psalm 51, we find the man, King David, bereft of the joy he once held. After being called out by his prophet, Nathan, and being confronted with the grave sin he had committed, David’s heart was heavy. David did not live a perfect and sinless life. He faced numerous struggles and did things that were displeasing to God, but he sought after God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace. David was penitent and humbled himself to God. Although God would desire that we not sin, He seeks us not to flee from Him when we do, but rather to seek after His forgiveness, as David did. There are consequences from our sin; however, they mustn’t be eternal. We are called to cry out to God for His mercy and to have our joy restored as we accept His forgiveness, as He is the one who lifts our spirits. He is the one who comforts us in His grace. This is the great benefit of confession, as we can pour our hearts out to God and hear His words of forgiveness given to us. This is the freedom that we receive from the bondage of sin, and we are bound ever more tightly to our Lord as He lets us know Him and live 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.