We cannot fix a broken spiritual foundation with simple behavior modification. We can try to act better, speak kinder, and follow the rules, but if our hearts are still holding onto old resentments and selfish desires, the changes won’t last. We eventually revert back to our old ways because the root hasn’t changed. The Psalmist understood that true change requires a Creator. We have to be entirely ready to let go of our defective coping mechanisms so that God can do His work. Asking God to “create” a pure heart is an admission that we cannot manufacture one ourselves. We need Him to clear out the toxic debris of our past and build something entirely new. Readiness is the posture that invites this transformation. When we are finally tired of our own instability, we can ask for a “steadfast spirit” a spirit that doesn’t collapse under pressure or run back to old habits when life gets hard. Your readiness is the only raw material God needs to start the renovation. | 
