“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
(Psalm 51:1)
David’s heartfelt plea in Psalm 51:1 demonstrates the level of faith and trust the psalmist had in the goodness of God. As Jonathan Edwards notes, “True faith, kindled by the Holy Spirit, embraces not only the truth of God’s Word but its goodness, producing joy and assurance in the soul.” This kind of living faith, given to God’s elect by His Spirit, recognizes God and His Word as both true and good. Unlike the wicked, who may grasp the truth and yet recoil in fear, the believer finds delight in God’s promises. For as 1 John 3:2 assures us: “When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”[1]
When the Holy Spirit brings about redemption in the soul, this living faith manifests in a life of obedience to God’s Word, prayer, and love for fellow believers. Such are the fruits of a heart transformed by grace. Romans 8:16 declares, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God,” certifying our adoption as His sons and daughters.
True faith is a conduit for God’s promises, as Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as: “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This kind of faith sustains me through trials because it anchors my soul in the certainty of my salvation. And my assurance deepens as I see God at work in my life—His Spirit sanctifying my life, His Word guiding my obedience, and His grace renewing my heart.
This living faith will continue to grow as my relationship with the Father deepens, turning my fear into joy, my doubt into certainty, and my sin into repentance. And when I am growing in grace I know my salvation is secure because it is based in the righteousness of Christ.
So to live by faith is to rest in God’s promises, to delight in His goodness, and to walk in His love. A living faith also calls me to trust His mercy, to seek Him in prayer, and to love His people, knowing that the Spirit who kindled my faith will also sustain it. My life must reflect this living faith as a testimony to God’s grace, as I await the day when faith becomes sight in His presence.
Contemplations:
- The goodness in truth. The truths of Scripture, like Psalm 51:1, nourish my soul with God’s mercy. These promises are not only true, however. They are also good, which brings me joy. I must delight in His Word and let it transform my heart.
- Joy in belief. Faith in God’s promises, like 1 John 3:2, replaces fear with peace. Each step of trust deepens my joy in knowing Him. But do I cling to this joy, or let trials overshadow it? I want to learn to rest in His assurances and find delight in His love.
- Assurance of salvation. The fruits of God’s work in my life—obedience, prayer, and love—are confirmations of my salvation. Romans 8:16 assures me I am His child. I must therefore live confidently as I continue to see His grace at work in me.
- The witness of the Spirit. The Spirit’s testimony within me, as Romans 8:16 declares, anchors my identity as God’s child. And in periods of doubt, the presence of His Spirit reassures me. Lord, help me trust this assurance and the promise of Your presence even when my assurance wavers.
Prayer (Thanksgiving):
O Lord, You are the God of boundless mercy, whose lovingkindness, as Psalm 51:1 declares, blots out my transgressions. I thank You for the gift of living faith, kindled by Your Spirit, that binds me to Christ and assures me of Your love. Your grace has made me Your child, as Romans 8:16 testifies, and I praise You for this adoption, unmerited and eternal.
I am grateful for the joy of faith, which transforms my heart and sustains me through trials. Thank You for Your Word, true and good, that nourishes my soul and guides my steps. I praise You for the Spirit’s witness, confirming my place in Your family and filling me with peace that surpasses understanding. Your promises, like 1 John 3:2, assure me of future glory, and I thank You for that hope that anchors my soul.
Thank You for the marks of faith in my life—obedience, prayer, and love for Your people—that testify to Your work within me. I am grateful for Your servants who call me to repentance, and for Your church, where faith is strengthened through fellowship.
Your faithfulness sustains my faith, preparing me for eternity. I thank You for the assurance that You are working in me, conforming me to Christ’s image. Let my life be a song of gratitude, proclaiming Your love to all. For You are my Father, my Redeemer, my joy, and I worship You for the living faith that draws me to Your heart.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Psalm 51:1:
2 Sam. 12:1, Ps. 106:45, Acts 3:19, 2 Sam. 24:10.
[1] Bartholomew Robertson, Spiritual Increase, (London: Nicholas Okes, for William Lee, and are to be sold at his shop in Fleet Street, at the sign of the Golden Buck, near Servant’s Inn, 1621), 61–70.
