"...The Joy of Your Salvation"

"I pray for the desire to pray and meditate on behalf of my congregation.  May we learn patience, gentleness, compassion, empathy, humility, and tolerance.  May we abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and shame.  May we come to know Christ as Christ knows us, as made in the image and likeness of God.  May we seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly."

 

Psalm 51:10-12

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
   and put a new and right^* spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me away from your presence,
   and do not take your holy spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
   and sustain in me a willing^* spirit.

1) "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me;" "...the joy of your salvation;" "...sustain me;" "...a willing spirit;" "...a new and right spirit within me;" "...restore me;" "...sustain IN me;" "...a clean heart;" "...right spirit;" "...a new and right spirit;"

2) Once again these are familiar and beloved words.  Words to be soaked in, more than thought about.  If only we were willing to receive a "new" spirit.  This is the same God from yesterday that when ask, God responds with certainty and what has been asked is accomplished. The supplication is its own response, a willingness to change is a change.  Once again, there are several possibilities for breathprayers, though several of them I see as said only on the exhalation as the inhalation is silent: "...a clean hear, O God;" "...a right spirit within me;" "...restore me to joy;" "...the joy of your salvation;" "...a willing spirit."

3) What is the invitation in all this?  To rest in "the joy of your salvation."  To practice receiving what God is offering, what we ask for.

"Holy One, may I recognize and receive the joy of your salvation as I seek to renew my heart and serve your world."

Breatheprayer: "...the joy of your salvation."