The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: 1st Peter 5:6-11 / Psalm 51:8-12

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10

Steadfast

I like the word “steadfast”. It makes me think of strength, reliability, faithfulness, and trustworthiness. I would like to be considered steadfast – a steadfast friend, a steadfast worker who is strong and reliable, faithful, immovable and trustworthy. I try to be steadfast in my life. I go to church, make a point of talking to God in prayer, try to live according to Jesus’ way of love. For all my efforts, I invariably discover that I’m not the steadfast person I want to be. I stumble and fail. I am weak. I cannot keep my own heart pure or my spirit steadfast. When I fall, my heart cries out to God to step in and fix my failings, then it is He who is steadfast. He is strong, faithful, and trustworthy. He gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to draw and keep me close to Him, strengthen my weak faith, and to remind me of the purity of heart Christ took to the cross on our behalf. Every day the unfailing, steadfast love of God creates in me a new, clean heart, and in His forgiveness, I am strong.
Faithful God, trustworthy Lord, lead me to rely on You as the only source of my strength and steadfastness. Amen.

February 11, 2007