Psalm 51:1-3 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Over the years I have heard many a salvation prayer or if you will The Sinner’s Prayer. Pastors will tell you that there is no secret formula, no exact words that lead a repentant sinner to salvation. I didn’t even know what I was saying when I said mine.

Today, reading all of Psalm 51, I discover all the components which are solid scriptural advice which could be a solid foundation for salvation. I am not saying reading this psalm leads to salvation but if your heart is in tune with this psalm you cannot go wrong.

It opens with acknowledgement of condition. No one wants to be saved unless they are aware that they need to be saved. “My sins are ever before me.” Does that sound like a haunting, an inescapable fear?

Most of us were not raised up to love the Lord and come to a knowledge of a loving relationship without first sinning. There are some who do because they were raise up in the right family atmosphere. Praise God for that. I have loving granddaughters who have come to the Lord at tender ages. Praise God. I would however encourage them to come to a clear understand of the process that others will have to undergo. Psalm 51 should help them be better witnesses because it identifies issues which they themselves did not have to endure.

Is there any one line of verse which stands out and will help every sinner? Yes, perhaps, but most of the passages are also important and to pick out just one should not be used as an excuse to ignore the rest.