For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

The Holy Spirit is my Nathan, holding up my life against the truth of Your word, exposing the continuing death struggles of the old man to the light and righteousness of Your law. There are so many areas where I try and protect him, where I act as the co-dependent and enabling parent, excusing my behavior but all is evil in Your sight and must die. Continue, Lord, in Your love and graciousness to transform me into Your image, fit for Your presence and useful to You in the advancement of Your kingdom.

Psalm 51:1-2

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Lord, how You pack reminders of Your grace and mercy into two short sentences: Your mercy, Your steadfast love, blotting out my transgressions, washing away my iniquities, and cleansing me from my sin. To You be all glory and honor and power and dominion forever and ever.

Psalm 119:40

Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

Your precepts are like sweetmeats, delicious and pleasant to the tongue, but leaving one looking forward to the next taste. It is so with Your precepts, as the Spirit reveals understanding in each, I am both satisfied and looking forward to the next revelation. To live the life of your righteousness, is to live the life of Your joy.

Psalm 50:22-23

"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"

Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

How do I continuously offer thanksgiving as my sacrifice of praise? How do I order my way rightly? How do I live out my salvation? Only by paying heed to every work that proceeds out of Your mouth and obeying that Word. Guide me, Lord.

Psalm 50:16-21

But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. "You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

Is this deceit in me? Am I guilty of slandering my brother and yet claiming to live in your covenant? Do I encourage thieves and adulterers to continue in their evil ways? Do I fight against your holy and just discipline? Quicken the ears of my heart, give me the willingness to listen to Your Holy Spirit as He guides me into all truth.

Psalm 50:7-15

"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.  I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart to the hypocrisy that resides within it. I hide behind a shield of self-delusion; I need to have my sin exposed and the smug pride stripped away. The underlying piety and sanctimony laid bare for me to see and repent. Convict me of my sin, Holy Spirit.

Psalm 50:1-6

A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah

LORD, that You would reveal Yourself anew. That I would be refreshed and re-fired by Your presence. That last night on the mountaintop would continue to be revealed to all today. That my face, my words, my actions would be an unveiled reflection of Your glory today and every day. That Your presence in my life would so subsume me that I would totally decrease, You would be totally visible in my life

Psalm 49:16-20

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed --and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Lord, let the transformation that You have worked and are continuing to work in me be evident to all. Let those who have refused Your offer be convicted and brought to You. Guide me so that no word or deed of mine will or can be used to allow someone to excuse themselves from Your offer of love and mercy. O that all my love ones would see Your love through a transformed me.

Psalm 49:15

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah

You will -- You have ransomed my soul from the grave. You have received me as one of Your own. You, my Lord and my Savior, have paid the price for my sins, You are the One who suffered and died in my place, You are the Risen One, seated at the right hand of the LORD God Almighty, ruling with all things under Your feet. You are the One who will come again in glory and majesty to take me to be with You forever and ever. Amen!

Psalm 119:25

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!

Precisely, Lord, my soul clings to the dust; I refuse to give up the pigsty that I live in so that I may enter into Your glory. Sandblast me, let the static of the Holy Spirit cause me to cling to Your word as I have clung to my sins.

Psalm 49:10-14

For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.

Lord, there are many whom You have given into my care to shepherd and nurture, yet who persist in setting their desires above Your Law; whose self-will refuses to recognize that Your way leads to blessing in Your presence. These name You as Savior, but refuse to acknowledge You as Lord and Master. Help me, guide me, instruct me as I show them by word and deed that there is a better way.

Psalm 49:5-9

Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

I have nothing to fear from those who attempt to take advantage of me. All is from You and for You, if someone steals or cheats, they are taking from You and must answer to You not me. You have paid the price for my life; You have insured that I will never see the pit; all else is insignificant.