Anchored in Grace. Excerpt from Anchored, a 7-part Bible study available on Amazon June 2026.

Each morning, before my day of writing begins, I sit at my desk and look up at the row of prayer requests lining the shelf above my computer. Most of these are what I call “sticky-note prayer requests”—requests from friends concerning medical tests, procedures, upcoming events, and the ordinary matters that come and go in our lives.

Other prayer requests are far more long-term: cancer, disabilities, sadness, lack of faith, parents praying for their children, financial needs, searching for a job, and strained family or friend relationships. My “prayer wall” is my way to make sure I do not forget to pray for each request shared with me.

Taped at the end of the row are printed scriptures that I see and read every day. Some, like Psalm 51, were taped there years ago. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” As I read it this morning, I was struck with a fresh awareness of just how much I need God’s grace. Read Psalm 51:10–12. It’s “good for what ails you,” as my Mamaw always used to say.

A few years ago when my fingers typed the first sentence of a post with a prayer for the coming year using this scripture from Psalms, in my mind I was thinking, “a prayer for the coming week.” But when I looked at the screen, I had typed year instead of week. Definitely not a typo, wouldn’t you agree? I believe it was God reminding us that Psalm 51:10–12 is a prayer for each day of our lives, not just one day or one week.

Psalm 51 was written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin. David had been a man after God’s own heart. A shepherd, a warrior, a king chosen by God, yet he fell in grievous ways. His sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah, were not hidden from God, no matter how carefully David tried to cover them. When the truth was brought into the light, David did not defend himself or shift the blame. Instead, he humbled himself before God and cried out for mercy.

What is so striking about David’s prayer is that he did not ask for his reputation to be restored or his throne to be secured. He asked for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. He knew his greatest need was not outward correction, but inward transformation. David understood that only God could cleanse him, restore his joy, and sustain him with a willing spirit.

When I consider my own failures (thankfully not adultery and murder) it is my heart’s cry that God’s mercy takes hold of me and reminds me, without a doubt, that I am secure in His unfailing love. God did not discard David, and He does not discard us when we fail. He continues to love, correct, and guide us in His ways.

How many people have we “thrown away” because they failed in some area of their lives? How often do we seek a “listening ear” instead taking the needs and requests of others to the feet of Jesus? Jesus first!

Today, I am thankful for God’s grace, and I am reminded to live with an attitude of grace, both for myself and for others. To live my life, day by day, daily dependent on my Father God, daily forgiven, and daily renewed.

As I pray for the prayer requests that are entrusted to me, I am reminded to pray with the same grace that is given to me. We are anchored in grace!

Reflective Questions To Ask Ourselves

• What prayer requests has God entrusted to me, and how faithful am I to remember them before Him each day? (Jesus first. His mercy. Daily dependent on our Father God)
• When I fail, am I more focused on fixing the outward situation, or on asking God to create a clean heart within me, as David did? (Daily forgiven by grace)
• Is there someone, or a place in my life, where God is asking me to respond with grace instead of judgment? (Daily renewed by grace)

Let’s Pray

Lord, create in each of us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us. Help us to come before You with honesty, humility, and trust, knowing that Your mercy meets us where we are. Fill us with Your grace so that we may extend it freely to ourselves and to those around us. Guide our steps today, renew our joy, and remind us of Your steadfast love in every moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Worship through Music

Find a quiet place and listen to David Crowder, a contemporary Christian music artist and worship leader in this powerful song, Come As You Are.  It’s a gentle invitation to bring your whole heart to God, just like David did in Psalm 51.

Let’s Connect

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