“Create in me a clean heart O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
It was Charles Wesley, in one of his great hymns, who wrote: “Let nothing now my heart divide, Since with Thee I am crucified, And live to God in Thee. Dead to the world and all its toys, its idle pomp and fading joys, Jesus, my glory be.” Why is the stanza to this hymn a prayer, and why does Wesley deal with the absolute issue of singleness, cleanness of heart, in devotion to God? It is because of two things, the first of which is that God is absolute, perfect, and all that He does and says is perfect. Hence, the work that He can and will do in the heart is a perfect one. Only He can do such a work, and He will, if the believer can trust Him for it. The second is God’s provision prayer, that appeal to God for His intervention, working, and the accomplishment of a perfect, permanent work in the heart. However, with regard to the believer’s response to His perfect work, is there a perfect faith? It is perfect in the measure of a “wholeness” of devotion and commitment. So, Wesley prays using the perfect work of Christ, and the believer’s union with Christ in that work, as the basis for his supplication and prayer, and the expression of the desire of his heart. He appeals to the Father on the basis of the finished work of Christ, specifically praying that the Father will intervene by the Spirit to manifest that work in the soul. He appeals also specifically to the Father that He be given him an undivided heart, a heart of faith, where there is an entire commitment of the heart to follow Christ.
Wesley goes on to further apply the finished work of Christ, and his identification with Christ, with regard, not only to sin and the sinner, but to the world. When Christ died on Calvary, and this to the world, sin, Satan, and self, (all the enemies of the believer), the believer died with Him. So, according to the truth, the basis has been laid for faith to believe the Father, and appeal to Him for the realization of such truths in the life. The prayer is simple, practical, well-founded.
David, in a similar fashion would pray to God concerning the absolute need for God to work in a perfect, profound way in the life. He would first appeal to the mercy of God, His lovingkindness and tender mercies. (Ps. 51) This is always where the believer begins in his seeking of the face of God for HIs intervention in the life. Why? It is because prayer is based upon who God IS, revealing to mankind that He is approachable in a certain way. But what of assurance? Where does it come from, and how can we have full assurance of faith, even though faith may never be perfect on this earth? Assurance begins at the cross and the honest, sincere and truthful appeal of the heart to God. Why?
Scripture tells us that “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) In other words, God gives faith, but only according to His spoken word, His gospel. This living, unchanging word, declares that God in Christ has created a new and living way into the holy of holies, with His own precious blood, to obtain for us an eternal salvation. It is a finished work, as there is but one sacrifice for sin, and He accomplished it. Faith begins here, face to face with the Redeemer who has accomplished the perfect work of redemption. Then there is the appeal to God the Father for complete forgiveness, the giving of a clean heart, and the renewal of a right spirit, a “whole” and complete attitude of faith in Christ. Where does this faith come from? It is given by the Spirit, who responds faithfully to the earnest call of the heart. The result is full assurance, and joy.
Dear Father, Give us Christ’s fulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.