“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.” C.S. Lewis
- God’s mercies are new every morning—and whether you are opening up this devotional in the morning or evening, He is ready to pour his merciful love and kindness into your heart, mama. Open your hands with your palms facing heaven, and tell your Father, “I’m ready to receive all that You have for me today, Lord.”
- Open up your Bible to Psalm 51. David cries out to God to clean his heart and give him a fresh start after making a grave mistake. Write Psalm verses 7-10 in your journal as you think about God’s restoring love.
One of the things I learned about my husband when we first met was he had run a 100-mile race. Upon learning this I instantly blurted out, ”I’ll never be a runner!” After we got married, I told him, “Now, I’m going to become a runner with you!” We still laugh about my complete shift in view on running.
It’s no wonder I can relate to the Apostle Peter! He was as quick to react as I am. In John 13, on the evening of the Passover meal, Jesus knelt down before His disciples’ dirtied, sandaled feet to wash them. Typical of the time, the lowest slave often washed the guests’ feet. Can you imagine how uncomfortable the disciples must have been when Jesus put His holy hands on their filthy feet? Outspoken Peter was quick to say, “You will never wash my feet, Jesus!” But moments later, he was saying, “Don’t just wash my feet—wash all of me!” I get you, Peter.
Imagine the mud caked on the disciple’s feet from following Jesus through thick and thin. As I write this, the back of my shirt is covered in spit-up, and there’s an unidentified spill in the bottom drawer of my refrigerator…We, mamas, know all about accumulating muck and mess in daily life!
Jesus knelt before His disciples to wash away their daily grime. He told Peter, “Unless I wash your feet, you have no part with me.” Dear mama, your beautiful heart and hands work hard every day for your family. But remember, in order to give them something that lasts, you must receive from Jesus first. Our hearts and homes don’t need to be clean before He arrives. In essence, Jesus told Peter in John 13:8, You have to let me take hold of your messiness and let me make it clean.
When Peter heard that, he immediately believed and wanted Jesus to wash all of him. Jesus told Peter that once he’d been cleansed, he only needed his feet washed. Your mistakes and your daily messes don’t define you either sweet sister. They just mean it’s time to go back to Jesus.
Dear mama, if you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have been set aside for a heavenly purpose. It’s ok if you’ve strayed or let too much life-sludge pile up. You only have to return to Him to be cleansed and restored. Jesus would say to you, “Just come back to me. Let me clean off today’s dirt. I’ll do it again tomorrow.”
Let’s pray: Thank you, Jesus, for sticking with me even when I stray and for being patient when I react. Here I am, Lord. I come to You with my daily grime in exchange for Your daily bread. Cleanse me, and make me new. Wash me, and I will be pure. Amen.
Blessings and Love,
Kacy
Read these Scriptures
- John 13:3-7
- Psalm 51:7-10
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Questions to Ponder
- What kind of grime or muck is in your heart or in your mind that you need to bring back to Jesus to let Him cleanse today?
- Have you trusted Jesus as the Lord of your life?
- If so, what are some specific ways He has renewed you in weary times?
- If not, would you like to receive the gift of eternal life from Jesus today?
- It’s as easy as ABC!
A – Admit to God you’re a sinner. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
B – Believe that Jesus is God’s Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
C – Confess your faith in Jesus as Your Lord and Savior. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
This is the greatest decision you will ever make, and your true purpose in life! If you receive Jesus into your heart today, make sure to tell a friend, family member, or pastor who believes—and let us know too so we can celebrate!
Faith-Filled Ideas
Put foot washing in action in your house as an object lesson! Whether it’s after your younger children have played outside in the mud or older children are returning from sports practice, set up a foot-washing station (or sit on the edge of the bathtub!) when they come inside. Bow down and lovingly wash their feet. While you wash, tell them how Jesus makes them clean and new every time they come to Him. You can do the same for your husband!
For more details on this wonderful faith-filled idea, go to page 143 for complete instructions on how to host a foot-washing night with your kids.
Five years into single parenting in the African bush, a Tennessee man also entered the mission field. We met and decided to stay in South Africa and get married.
We are now living in Cape Town, South Africa building up the local church with our teenager and toddler boys.
Help Club for Moms became a lifeline to me when I was lonely on the mission field with a new baby in a foreign country. I am so thankful to write for this community and to document God’s work in my own family at http://www.ladd.family
- Mom To Mom with Kacy: Your Purpose is Not in Your Perfection - September 25, 2023
- Embracing Special: A Mom’s Journey to Learning How to Thrive as a Family with Special Needs - September 19, 2023
- Turn Your Groaning Into Gratitude - July 13, 2023