Honesty

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."
Psalm 51:10-12

King David uttered these words after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Nathan the prophet had confronted him and David responded with these powerful words. What I love the most about David was his honesty with God. He didn't attempt to cover anything. He did not try to soften the impact of what he had done. He didn't mince his words. He was perfectly honest. He understood that he had created a wall between himself and God. He knew that this was the greatest defeat. Only one thing would do; remove the wall that sin had built. And he did it...with honesty.
    I believe that one of the greatest things God requires of us is honesty. We generally are not very honest people. When others ask us how we are doing, we say that we are fine or good. In reality, we may be suffering. We may feel separated from God. We may be thinking that our prayers count for nothing and God is afar off. But still we hide and stand behind a facade of lies. This may work with people, but it never works with God. He already knows exactly how we feel, where we are, and what we need. Surely it must be time to stop the act and just be honest with God.
    David was so distressed that he felt he would lose the Spirit of God that had always been with him. His joy was gone and he didn't feel the presence of the Lord he was used to experiencing. Something was wrong. He had been confronted in his sin, and now his desire was to simply be honest with God and see what would happen. And God showed up. He heard David, forgave his sin and restored him. He literally did create a new spirit within David. His heart was made clean by the only one who could wash it white as snow. David was hurting and he told God his troubles with honesty.
    If you are hurting, tell God. If you are involved in a sin that is separating you from him, tell him. If you are in need of a new heart, ask him for one. If you need new joy, ask him to give it to you in greater measure than ever before. These things are honest. Uttering these words will bring a smile to God's face, not because he exults in your pain, but because he loves you so much. Your honesty is a blessing to him. It is an offering given from a broken heart. He will hear, he will respond, and he will set you free. He will create a new heart in you and give you joy beyond anything you could imagine. And he will fill you with his Holy Spirit to greater measure than ever before. All this happens, simply by being honest before God. What a release. What a relief. What new life is created from a simple act of honesty.