David's prayer

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4


A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.



Psalm 51:1-12


Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.




For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are proved right when you speak

and justified when you judge.




Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;

you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.




Cleanse me with hyssop,

and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.




Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.




Now that you've already read this the way you've probably always read it, I want you to go back over it once again, and pray it instead of read it. I believe you will get a glimpse into the heart of the man who's known as the man after God's own heart and you will see a difference.