A Steadfast Spirit

by Martha Spong | published on Aug 3, 2024

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10 (NRSVUE) 

As Psalm 51 comes to its close, the writer moves from repentance to a request for help, a formula I often find myself employing in prayer: O God, I have done this or that wrong, or I failed to do thus and so, or I am really bad at trusting in [whatever the concern of the day might be]. Help me, O God, to do this better, or actually do it, or believe in [whatever the important thing is]. 

For any of those situations, verse 10 meets the moment: Fix me up, Holy One, make the mental, emotional, spiritual part of me different. 

Another way of saying “right” in verse 10 is to say “steadfast.” That goes so deep in me. I could easily tie myself in knots over the correct way a spirit could be right.” It feels so exact, and so static. What if I don’t pray for help with the proper intention, or with the particular words required?  

But to ask for a steadfast spirit opens my mind to possibilities for deepening my relationship with God. A steadfast spirit sticks with it and never stops coming back around to reconsider and renew and rededicate. A steadfast spirit has the courage to try something new but also to let something go if it’s not working. For a steadfast spirit, there is not one way, but the way.  

Prayer
Holy One, put a new and steadfast spirit within me. Amen.

Martha Spong About the Author
Martha Spong is a UCC pastor, a clergy coach, and editor of The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, from The Pilgrim Press.