Most of us tried to quit our destructive behaviors on our own a hundred times. We made promises on New Year’s Eve, we set strict rules for ourselves, and we relied on sheer, white-knuckled willpower. We convinced ourselves that the problem was just a lack of discipline. We thought, “If I just try harder, if I just grit my teeth, I can fix myself.” But willpower is like a muscle it eventually fatigues and gives out. And when it did, we found ourselves right back where we started, feeling more defeated than ever.
The Psalmist David realized that the problem was much deeper than bad habits; the problem was the heart itself. You cannot fix a broken heart with a band-aid of good intentions or behavior modification. We need a Creator to step in and do what we cannot do for ourselves. We need Him to literally create a pure heart within us.
When we ask God to renew a “steadfast” spirit, we are asking for stability. We are asking for a spirit that doesn’t blow over with the first strong wind of temptation, stress, or disappointment. Readiness welcomes this massive renewal. When we stop trying to be our own savior and ask the Creator to remake us from the inside out, lasting, sustainable change finally begins
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