My Spirit, My ResponsibilitySample

A Right Spirit

In Psalm 51: 10-12, David prayed for a right spirit. 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. [KJV]"

Other translations say steadfast spirit, and a generous spirit. Did you know that God has a generous spirit? When we are born again, it is our spirit that is made new and where God’s Spirit dwells. As we continue to walk with and grow in God, our spirit should be more and more free, steadfast and consistent – more like His. 

Daniel had an excellent spirit and David prayed for a right spirit... 

What about you? What rules your spirit?

Is it free, or is it full of offenses or hurts of the past? It’s very easy to justify the things that ensnare our spirit. Human nature tends to want to justify mediocrity because of what is going on in our spirit.

1989 was one of my first visits to America. There I met a very successful and prominent pastor called Casey Treat and I unexpectedly had the opportunity to hang out with him and observe his ministry for a few days. Nobody really knew who I was back then, a young pastor from a small church in the suburbs of Australia, so this was a very generous opportunity for me. After I returned to Australia, I received a letter (pre email era!) from Casey inviting me to speak at a very high profile conference his church was hosting. I took one look at the line-up of speakers and my knees went weak. Why would Casey ask me to speak at this conference? He’d never even heard me preach and I was an unknown at the time! When I went and spoke, I felt completely out of my depth.  Afterwards I asked Casey, “Why did you ask me to come and speak – you’d never even heard me preach?” He said, “I liked your spirit.” 

I never forgot that.

1 Corinthians 14:32 says, “The spirits of the prophets is subject to the prophets.” In other words, the prophet controls the prophecy, rather than the other way around.

When someone has a polluted spirit, it comes out through their gift, whatever their gift is. There may be nothing wrong with what the person says, but if it is not coming out of a free, generous or clean spirit, it somehow contaminates the message. If your spirit is not right, it is revealed in what you do because we ‘leak’ our spirit.

What God wants to do in your life is far too important to allow it to be sabotaged or ruled by a wounded spirit. But a right spirit will open doors of opportunity for you.

PRAYER: Lord God, thank you that my future is secure in you.  Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me that I may walk into my glorious future and all of the good plans that you have for my life.