From Hopscotch to Holiness

82 From Hopscotch To HolinessSPIRITUAL HEALING AT THE CROSSSpiritual healing is a vital move of God in the life of believers. Have youever thought of repentance as a gift from the Lord? I’m not sure I had.But it really is a gift to be received and cherished. By God’s grace and hisforgiveness, we can truly turn from our sins and live under God’s controlin every area of our lives.Consider Psalm 51:1-12. “Have mercy on me, O God, according toyour unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out mytransgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you,you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you areright in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful atbirth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desiredfaithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secretplace. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I willbe whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones youhave crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all myiniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spiritwithin me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spiritfrom me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willingspirit, to sustain me.”Like David in this psalm we must come to grips with our sin and cry outto God for mercy. David says, “I know my transgressions.” That’s the firststep. David also took responsibility for his own sin. He did not pass blameto others or make excuses. He said to the Lord, “Against you, you only,have I sinned.” That’s also an important step in receiving God’s gift ofrepentance. Then David asked God to cleanse him with hyssop. Hyssopwas the name given to a family of plants found in Israel. Hyssop was