“Create in me a clean heart,” David said, “and renew a right spirit within me.”  David wrote these words as he was taking steps to be right with God and to get himself back onto the road to purity.  All of us want a clean heart.  Clean is always important, but don’t overlook the importance of the second half of David’s statement.  In order to have a clean heart, our spirit has to be renewed.  Here are three truths that can help us stay on the road to purity.

1. Be aware that a wrong spirit hinders us.

 A wrong spirit hinders us from having a clean heart.  It will also hinder recovery following a failure.  When we are irritated and frustrated or just down and discouraged, the enemy knows that we are in a weakened state emotionally (i.e. our spirit is wrong). He will either tempt us to take us further into failure or he will point to all of the errors of our past to keep us from advancing to greater victory.  The same scenario happens when we are lonely, angry, bored, or tired. A wrong spirit will definitely hinder our purity.  

2. Be aware that a right spirit aids us.

When my spirit is right, it strengthens me to face the temptations from the world, my flesh, and the enemy.  It sustains me when the battle comes because I am able to think clearly and wisely.  God’s word teaches us to have a rejoicing heart. We are to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4)! The idea is that I have to continually get myself into a good frame of mind.  In our culture, we are bombarded with negative and raw emotions.   If we join the culture and allow our emotions to be negatively impacted, we lose the aid that is available through a right spirit.  A right spirit will definitely aid our battle for purity.

3. Be aware that a right spirit has to be renewed.

This is super important to understand.  A right spirit has to be maintained and corrected.  No wonder we are told to meditate in God’s Word day and night and to hide it in our heart that we might not sin against God (Psalm 1, Psalm 119:11).  No wonder we are told to sing to ourselves and make melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).  A happy song in the heart renews our spirit.  No wonder we are instructed to walk in the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit ministers to our spirit and leads us through this sin-cursed world (Galatians 5:16-24).  Depend on the Spirit and His power.  Ask for it.  God will give you His strength through His Spirit.  A right spirit has to be renewed, not only daily, but often many times in any given day. 

Remember that a right spirit helps our purity.

Thanks for reading.

Your friend,

Dave Young