Take a fresh look at several Christmas carols, spanning several countries and several centuries.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

There are some things that are sacred to all of us. Memories, traditions and the way we worshiped as children in our churches, if we had parents who took us to church. Growing up, we had a Morning Prayer service in our prayer books to do by ourselves or as a family during the week. Each morning started out with this portion of Psalm 51:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit”  (Psalm 51:10-12).

What great way to start off each day! It puts us in our place and God in His. It is like asking for a fresh start. We want God to create in us a clean heart, a brand new slate unspoiled by any hurts or f from the day before.

That means renewing a right (some translations say steadfast) spirit in us. Then as we go through the day, we do not wish to be far from God’s presence nor have the Holy Spirit stop guiding us in our thoughts, speech and actions.  We want the right relationship restored, our sins confessed and forgiven so we can be in His presence and not block the Spirit’s whisperings to us. And we want to be upheld through whatever happens that day, good or bad, or in between.

There have been times I had to breathe this memorized-as-a-child prayer during my day. In fact, there have been weeks when I had to constantly ask God to renew a right spirit in me when I felt under attack. Each time I pray this Psalm I feel sacredness enter into the mundane.  I feel a connection with the faithful who for centuries prayed the same words morning after morning. And I know my prayer is answered, again.

Questions: Do you have a Bible verse that is sacred to you that you can pray? What is it? If not, pray to God to show you one.

About the Author Julie Cosgrove