If a house is built on a rotting, termite-infested wooden foundation, putting a fresh coat of expensive paint on the walls isn’t going to save it. Eventually, the house is going to collapse. We often try to manage our spiritual lives the same way. We try to modify our behavior, act nicer, and follow the rules, hoping nobody notices that our internal foundation is crumbling under the weight of old resentments and selfish desires. The Psalmist understood that a fresh coat of paint isn’t enough; true change requires a Creator to rebuild the foundation. Asking God to “create” a pure heart is an admission that we cannot manufacture one ourselves. We have to be entirely ready to let go of our defective coping mechanisms so that God can clear out the toxic debris of our past. Readiness is the posture that allows Him to build a steadfast spirit within us that won’t collapse under pressure. | 
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