Psalm 101:3 
“I will not look with approval 
on anything that is vile. 
I hate what faithless people do; 
I will have no part in it.” (NIV)

I refuse to take a second look
at corrupting people and degrading things.
(The Message)

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We don’t watch much television around our house. We watch the 6:00 news fairly often. It’s important to keep an eye on the weather, particularly this time of year. I put on a baseball game when my bride works late. It provides white noise in the background so that I can read without unnecessary interruption. 

When my bride does watch television, it’s usually something that we’ve seen a hundred times or more. This way we know it’s safe to watch. We tried to watch one of those gritty drama series that’s all the rage not long ago. Someone we know and trust recommended it to us. Fifteen minutes into it, we were done. 

Most popular entertainment makes it impossible to live up to Psalm 101:3. Books are always better anyway. I just finished the last book in Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay series. It was so deeply moving that I wanted to start the whole series over again. 

I had surgery two weeks ago. Today is my follow-up appointment. I have my book ready for the waiting room. Here’s hoping it’s a busy morning at the doctor’s office.

Eugene Peterson’s Bible paraphrase called The Message really makes this verse come alive. A neat two-step plan provides a simple structure for how to manage the murk and slime of our days. 

1. Don’t give a second look at corrupting people. 
2. Don’t give a second look at degrading things.

Deliberately turning our attention away from those things leading to sin or leading away from all things good and wholesome is the only way to live with a pure heart and clean hands. 

“Give me a pure heart and clean hands” is one of those sentence prayers I employ on a regular basis. I commend it to you. The instructions in this verse help us live like that. They help us keep our hearts and hands pure and clean. 

Today’s a good day to test out that prayer and these instructions. Take time at the end of the day to reflect on what this verse says. How did you do? How pure is your heart? How clean are your hands? 

I will do this as well. The Lectio 365 app will help me at this point. If you’re not using this morning, noon, and night, you might give it a try. The evening devotionals follow this pattern:

1. Reflect
2. Rejoice
3. Repent
4. Rest

It’s much easier to rest after we’ve repented. 

Each day includes this simple prayer to help at this point. 

“Father God, would you remind me now of the ways in which I have sinned today, through negligence, through weakness, or my own deliberate fault? I take a moment now to confess my sins before you now.”

If it makes you uncomfortable to confess your sins, remember 2 Chronicles 30:9, which says, “The LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” 

God is more ready to forgive our sins than we are to confess them. 

God also gives us guidance on how to keep our heart and hands clean and pure. 

Refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things. Ask Adi of pure heart and clean hands. Return to God in repentance when you realize your heart and hands require His cleansing and forgiveness. There you will experience His grace and compassion. You’ve got his word on it. 

—

I will take the right lead measures to avoid anything that causes me to sin, and I will take to God a true report of how I fall short as I seek His forgiving and healing grace.

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Our Father, empower me today to turn away from corrupting and degrading people and things. Please bless me with a pure heart and clean hands. Thank you that when I come up short, you are there to hear my prayer of repentance, to thoroughly cleanse me, and to help me begin again more intelligently. Truly, you are better to me than I would be to myself. Amen.