1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,410 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,450 --> 00:00:18,329 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge and 4 00:00:18,370 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by Psalm 51 verse 12 which says, 5 00:00:24,420 --> 00:00:28,460 Speaker 1: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold 6 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:34,089 Speaker 1: me with a willing spirit. What's the worst thing you've 7 00:00:34,170 --> 00:00:38,030 Speaker 1: ever done? How often do you think about it? Does 8 00:00:38,070 --> 00:00:40,430 Speaker 1: it come back to your mind time and time again? 9 00:00:40,450 --> 00:00:44,430 Speaker 1: Do you frequently beat yourself up about it? Are you 10 00:00:44,530 --> 00:00:49,700 Speaker 1: struggling to move beyond it? It's normal and healthy for 11 00:00:49,729 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: a follower of Christ to experience sorrow and remorse in 12 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:58,180 Speaker 1: regard to mistakes we've made or sins we've committed. We 13 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,370 Speaker 1: regret the fact that we've sinned against the Lord. We're 14 00:01:01,430 --> 00:01:04,190 Speaker 1: bothered by the fact that we've caused others to experience 15 00:01:04,290 --> 00:01:09,179 Speaker 1: pain or shame. But beating ourselves up about past mistakes 16 00:01:09,740 --> 00:01:13,220 Speaker 1: isn't a healthy spot to remain in over the long term. 17 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 1: If we've confessed our sin, repented of it, and are 18 00:01:17,620 --> 00:01:20,620 Speaker 1: walking in step with the Spirit, we don't need to 19 00:01:20,670 --> 00:01:26,190 Speaker 1: keep revisiting the bad decisions we've made. Jesus took our sin, shame, 20 00:01:26,510 --> 00:01:30,030 Speaker 1: and guilt upon himself at the cross once. He knows 21 00:01:30,069 --> 00:01:33,510 Speaker 1: that isn't a burden we can stand to bear. He 22 00:01:33,550 --> 00:01:36,550 Speaker 1: knows that the weight of it would crush us. He 23 00:01:36,630 --> 00:01:39,380 Speaker 1: bore it for us so we could live in the 24 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:46,060 Speaker 1: freedom of His gracious forgiveness. In Christ, we find restoration 25 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: for our crushed spirits. In Christ, we find encouragement and 26 00:01:51,060 --> 00:01:55,940 Speaker 1: the opportunity to begin again. Our Lord who has purchased 27 00:01:56,180 --> 00:01:59,850 Speaker 1: our freedom and has granted us new life is the 28 00:01:59,970 --> 00:02:03,870 Speaker 1: one who brings us lasting joy that overcomes our tendencies 29 00:02:03,950 --> 00:02:11,190 Speaker 1: to brood over the past. Let's pray. Lord, we thank 30 00:02:11,210 --> 00:02:13,430 Speaker 1: you for your word. And we thank you for the 31 00:02:13,470 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: privilege that it is to be able to read this 32 00:02:15,350 --> 00:02:19,299 Speaker 1: portion of scripture today from the book of Psalms. And Lord, 33 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: as we look at this portion of your word, we're 34 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:25,780 Speaker 1: reminded of the fact that you can restore what seems damaged. 35 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,940 Speaker 1: You can bring joy to us, a joy that's anchored 36 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:34,060 Speaker 1: in you, the joy of salvation. And you can renew 37 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,980 Speaker 1: our spirits as we trust in you and as we 38 00:02:37,060 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: walk with you daily. Lord, we're grateful for the fact 39 00:02:40,340 --> 00:02:42,290 Speaker 1: that you're willing to do this. We're grateful for the 40 00:02:42,330 --> 00:02:45,890 Speaker 1: fact that you're willing to uphold us. Because at times 41 00:02:45,970 --> 00:02:49,710 Speaker 1: we dwell on things that are unhealthy and unwise. Our 42 00:02:49,750 --> 00:02:52,430 Speaker 1: minds get stuck in the past. We think about our 43 00:02:52,490 --> 00:02:56,530 Speaker 1: past mistakes, our past errors, the things that we regret. 44 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: the things that embarrass us. But Lord, we're grateful that 45 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,139 Speaker 1: when we look to you, we can recognize that you 46 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: have taken our sin and our guilt and our shame 47 00:03:06,980 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: upon yourself at the cross. You bore these things for 48 00:03:12,020 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: us so that we don't need to continue to bear them. Lord, 49 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: we're so grateful that we can give these things over 50 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,780 Speaker 1: to you. And we're grateful for your gracious intervention in 51 00:03:21,860 --> 00:03:24,750 Speaker 1: our lives. and for the fact that you renew our hearts, 52 00:03:24,790 --> 00:03:27,980 Speaker 1: you renew our minds, you renew our lives, and you 53 00:03:28,020 --> 00:03:31,380 Speaker 1: help us to anchor our thinking in the hope that 54 00:03:31,419 --> 00:03:35,420 Speaker 1: we have through you. So Lord, if we're struggling right 55 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,500 Speaker 1: now to truly embrace the joy that you supply, we 56 00:03:38,540 --> 00:03:41,130 Speaker 1: pray that today would be the day that you help 57 00:03:41,210 --> 00:03:43,610 Speaker 1: our hearts and our minds to return to that joy, 58 00:03:44,370 --> 00:03:47,910 Speaker 1: and that you would receive glory as we express the 59 00:03:48,030 --> 00:03:51,300 Speaker 1: genuine appreciation that we have for who you are and 60 00:03:51,340 --> 00:03:54,530 Speaker 1: for what you've done in our lives. Thank you, Lord, 61 00:03:54,550 --> 00:03:57,870 Speaker 1: for these reminders from your word today. We commit this 62 00:03:57,910 --> 00:04:02,700 Speaker 1: day to your care and pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.