TUESDAY February 10, 2026
Do You Have a Guilty Conscience?
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2
Have you ever read Psalm 51? David wrote Psalm 51 after he was confronted by Nathan the prophet about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. He felt immense guilt; it was such a heavy burden on his heart and mind. David had enjoyed an intimate relationship with God, but it became a broken relationship. God forgave him, but there were dire consequences.
This morning, meditate on some of the other verses of this psalm to grasp the depth of David’s despair and his desire to be made right with his God.
Psalm 51:3-4: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight....
Psalm 51:7-9: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
This is what David experienced while he was in sin. He began to feel sick––as if all his bones ached. When you know you are living a sinful life, what happens? You begin to feel sickened––trapped––as if there is no way out. And when you try to fix things, life becomes a whole lot worse.
Like David, why not turn to God in repentance? Listen to his sincere prayer of repentance and ask God to do the same thing for you.
Psalm 51:10-12: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Do you need forgiveness today? Then bow your head and pray.
A guilty conscience is a great blessing, but only if it drives us to come home.
~John Stott~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
