This morning I thought about the simplicity and power of David’s words in Psalm 51: 10-12. When I think about Christmas, I often pray that God helps our family and community feel that Christmas spirit and the joy of a Savior’s birth. But we often don’t feel that way. We often feel a different kind of spirit of loneliness, boredom, despair, anger, jealousy, or disappointment. Maybe, like David, we struggle with guilt and shame. David prayed this (and it’s a perfect prayer for the Christmas season):
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
What if we all felt a restored sense of joy, of being sustained, of being “right” with God and with others? What if Christmastime meant a time to understand afresh why Jesus came to us and what His birth, death, and resurrection mean?
Because of Jesus, Christmas means David’s prayer is answered for us, right now. The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us. The joy of salvation is ours. The power of God is ours. We can be right again.