“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
Psalm 66:18
Understanding the Heart Matter
Have you ever felt like your prayers were hitting a ceiling?
Like something was blocking your connection with God?
The psalmist gives us a powerful insight into what might be causing this spiritual static – hidden, cherished sin.
What Does it Mean to Cherish Sin?
Think of it like this: Imagine you have a beautiful garden, but there’s a weed you’ve grown fond of.
Instead of pulling it out, you water it along with your flowers. That’s what cherishing sin is like.
It’s not just making mistakes – it’s knowingly holding onto something that damages your relationship with God.
Signs You Might Be Cherishing Sin
- Making excuses for certain behaviors
- Refusing to acknowledge wrong choices
- Hiding specific actions from others
- Protecting habits you know aren’t right
The Prayer Connection
Your prayer life is like a phone line to heaven. When you cherish sin, it’s like having a bad connection.
The problem isn’t that God can’t hear you – He’s all-powerful after all.
The issue is that you’re choosing to maintain something that creates distance between you and Him.
Why This Matters
Remember when you were a kid and broke something but tried to hide it from your parents?
The guilt made it hard to look them in the eye or have a normal conversation. The same principle applies here – unconfessed sin makes it difficult to approach God openly.
Finding Freedom
The good news is that you don’t have to stay stuck in this pattern. Here’s how you can clear the lines of communication:
- Be honest with yourself about hidden sin
- Confess it to God without excuses
- Ask for help in letting it go
- Take practical steps to change
Real-Life Application
Think about areas in your life where you might be holding onto sin. Maybe it’s:
- An attitude you know isn’t right
- A habit you’ve been justifying
- A relationship that pulls you away from God
- Words or actions that hurt others
The Path Forward
God isn’t waiting to punish you – He’s waiting to restore you.
When you release those cherished sins, you’ll find your prayer life becoming more vibrant and real.
Today’s Prayer
Father, show me any sin I’ve been protecting or hiding. Give me the courage to face it and the strength to let it go. I want nothing blocking my relationship with you. Amen.
Your Next Step
Today, take a quiet moment to ask God to reveal any cherished sin in your life. Write it down if you need to. Then, take the bold step of confessing it and asking for help to change.
Remember, this isn’t about feeling ashamed – it’s about experiencing the freedom and joy of an unhindered relationship with God.
Your prayers matter, and keeping your heart clear of cherished sin helps ensure nothing stands between you and your Heavenly Father.
Upside Down: 15 Week Bible Study
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
- Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
- Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
- Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!