ME FIRST!

I must be the one to first to search my heart and my ways;

to repent of my sins and walk in obedience;

to correct my motives and attitudes;

and to experience restoration.

Then I will be in a good place to teach, exhort, rebuke and correct others!

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; 

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, 

Blot out my transgressions. 

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, 

And cleanse me from my sin. 

For I acknowledge my transgressions, 

And my sin is always before me. 

Against You, You only, have I sinned, 

And done this evil in Your sight-

- That You may be found just when You speak, 

And blameless when You judge. 

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, 

And in sin my mother conceived me. 

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, 

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; 

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

Make me hear joy and gladness, 

That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 

Hide Your face from my sins, 

And blot out all my iniquities. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Do not cast me away from Your presence, 

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, 

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, 

And sinners shall be converted to You. 

Psalm 51:1-13 

And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, 

but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 

  Or how can you say to your brother, 

'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; 

and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

  Hypocrite! 

First remove the plank from your own eye, 

and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 

Matthew 7:3-5 

and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 

2 Corinthians 10:6 

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