Summer in the Psalms | How Real Change Happens | Dave Nelson

SUMMER IN THE PSALMS | HOW REAL CHANGE HAPPENS DAVE NELSON | JUNE 7, 2026 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. Psalm 9:1 (NLT) Then David confessed... “I have sinned against the Lord.” 2 Samuel 12:13 (NLT) REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF HEART THAT LEADS TO A CHANGE IN DIRECTION. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:1-17 (NLT) HOW REAL CHANGE HAPPENS: 1. BE BRUTALLY HONEST ABOUT MY SIN Purify me from my sin… (Psalm 51:2) I recognize my rebellion… (Psalm 51:3) I have done what is evil in your sight. (Psalm 51:4) SIN MEANS TO MISS THE MARK. When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Psalm 32:3 (NLT) Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight... Psalm 51:4 (NLT) 2. BE WILLING TO REDIRECT MY HEART Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT) Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Psalm 51:13 (NLT) 3. RECOGNIZE MY NEED FOR GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT) NLT = NEW LIVING TRANSLATION