Redeeming What I Have Missed
Devotionals on Holiness — Part Two
Pastor Calvin Cook | October 9, 2026
Psalm 51:10 (KJV) “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Yesterday, I shared some reflections from a recent pastors’ retreat and the powerful words of Ephesians 3:20–21: God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ever ask or imagine.
But the question that has remained with me is this: Am I truly willing to allow God to accomplish that exceedingly abundant work within my own heart? That brings me to another realization. There are places where I have missed the mark.
There have been moments when I should have listened more carefully, prayed more earnestly, loved more deeply, or responded more obediently to the leading of the Holy Spirit. There have been opportunities I failed to recognize, words I wish I had spoken differently, relationships that deserved more attention, and decisions I might have approached with greater patience and spiritual discernment.
I cannot return to yesterday and rewrite every situation.
But through Jesus Christ, I can seek forgiveness, make things right where I am able, and surrender those failures to His redeeming grace.
The promise of exceedingly abundant grace does not mean that my failures are insignificant. It means that my failures do not have to have the final word.
This morning, partly because in preparing for this week’s message and partly discerning the new territory and understanding of holiness and grace that I find myself in, I am reminded of David’s prayer in Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
David was not simply asking God to change his circumstances. He was crying out for a transformation of his heart. And perhaps that is where Ephesians 3 and the words exceedingly abundant living begins.
Restoration of the heart. Of a heart that only has room for God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Not simply asking God to remove the consequences of yesterday, but asking Him to change the person I am becoming today.
Not asking Him to excuse what I have done wrong, but allowing His grace to bring conviction, repentance, forgiveness, and a new direction. Not simply regretting what has been lost, but seeking the courage to respond faithfully to what God is doing now.
There is a difference between being sorry for what has happened and being willing to be transformed by the grace of God. Repentance is not simply looking backward with regret. It is turning toward Christ and allowing His Spirit to lead us forward in a different direction. This brings me/us again to the call to holiness.
Holiness living becomes a life in which our love becomes more complete, our obedience more willing, our prayers more sincere, and our hearts more fully devoted to Jesus Christ. The same Spirit who empowered the early church to devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer is still at work today. The sooner we realize this the better off we are going to be. The same Spirit who brought ordinary everyday believers to this place in Acts 2 is still calling us into a life of holiness.
The same God who began a good work in us remains faithful to continue that work.
Since last weeks preaching I have been thinking much lately about Moses standing before the burning bush. God called him to remove his sandals because the ground upon which he stood was holy.
But Moses was not called simply to admire the holy ground. He was called to respond !
I wonder how many times I have stood on holy ground, recognized the presence of God, and yet hesitated to take the next step. How many times have I prayed for God’s direction while holding tightly to my own plans? How many times have I asked God to move while being reluctant to move myself?
Perhaps the invitation this morning is to remove whatever stands between my heart and complete obedience. My fears. My disappointments. My pride. My regrets. My need to control the outcome. And to say once again, “Here I am, Lord.”
At this season of my life, I do not want merely to look backward at what God has accomplished. Nor do I want to become so concerned about what lies ahead that I fail to recognize what He is doing today.
I want the remaining chapters of my life to be marked by a deeper intimacy with Christ, a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and a more complete surrender to the holiness of God.
I want to experience the exceedingly abundant grace of God in ways that transform not only my ministry, the churches, the community, but more importantly my heart. And I want that transformation to overflow into the lives of those God has entrusted to my care.
Perhaps the greatest miracle I should be asking God for today is not that He would do more around me, but that He would accomplish more of His holy work within me.
I cannot change yesterday. But I can surrender today.
I cannot recover every missed opportunity. But I can respond to the opportunity God is placing before me now. I cannot make myself holy through my own strength. But I can surrender myself to the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace of God to sanctify me wholly.
Perhaps the greatest abundance we will ever receive is the grace to become more like Jesus.
My Prayer Today : Heavenly Father, I come before You acknowledging that there are places where I have missed the mark. Forgive me for the moments when I failed to listen, when I resisted Your leading, when I allowed my own desires to become greater than Your will, and when I settled for something less than the holy life You have called me to live.
Redeem what can be redeemed. Restore what needs to be restored. Remove what needs removed – Heal what has been wounded. And give me the humility and courage to make right those things for which I bear responsibility. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Help me to respond when You call, to follow when You lead, and to trust when I cannot see the way ahead. May all that I do be focused on you Lord – In His holy name, Amen.
A Question for Today: What part of my life am I still holding back from the redeeming and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit?
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