## 51:10
%% 4
> Create in Me a Clean Heart
>> Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me

Occasion: Asking forgiveness for hurtful words

Lord, I need to go back.
My words hit hard,
and now they sit between us
like broken glass on the floor.
I can see the pieces.
I know I broke them.

If only I could take the words back.
But they were heard.
They did what hurtful words do,
and it's not for me to decide 
how long the pain should last
or how quickly I should be forgiven.

Give me the grace to ask forgiveness plainly.
No excuses.
No shifting the blame.
No softening what I said.
Keep me from using an apology
to defend myself all over again.

Pride wants to step around the hurt
and keep walking.
It would rather protect my image
than bend down and clean up.
And part of me is afraid to face
what my words have damaged.

Let my sorrow be more than a feeling.
Let it become a lesson learned the hard way,
and speech that is wiser for it.
Teach my mouth to pause
and my heart to become gentler.

I said the hurtful words, Lord.
Stay with me while I mend as best I can.

Amen.