2020 Daily Devotion - Day 153

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Psalm 66:18-19 RSV

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

This is a very powerful text. Sometimes we love our sin so much we refuse to let it go. We even come to the place where we try to justify what we know, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, is sin. When we do this, we create a barrier between us and God; a barrier which can even affect our dialogue in prayer with Him. So, the key is repentance – which simply means to turn and go in a new direction. We might have to turn many, many times – asking for forgiveness and clinging to the cross of Jesus. And when we do, the barriers of our selves will come falling down and we will have clear communication with our Heavenly Father.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, there are times when we have put up barriers between us. We have even “cherished” our sin. Because of the cross of Jesus, forgive us and make us new. Do a new work of transformation in us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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