Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, / The Lord will not hear.”

March 12th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

When a business bills a client, they keep track of how long it takes for the client to pay. In their books there is a “current” column, “30-day” column, “60-day” column, etc. If the client pays promptly, they are considered to be keeping short accounts with that business. When we sin, we owe God. We can’t pay the bill ourselves, but when we come to Him and confess our sins, He pays the bill. The Apostle John wrote of this in his first letter: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

David kept short accounts with God, quickly confessing, repenting, and offering the required sacrifices of the Old Testament for his sins. He was certainly not saying that he was perfect or sinless, but rather that he was blameless because God forgave his sins. David’s point was as important today as it was then. God still won’t let us keep sin in our hearts as believers. If we do, then as David pointed out, God simply refuses to hear our prayers.

When a Bible teacher was asked when a man should repent, he said, “Repent on the last day of your life.” “But we do not know when that will be,” his questioner responded. “Then repent now,” the teacher replied. Are we keeping short accounts with God? We need to confess and repent, now.

“LORD, we do confess that we are sinners and need your forgiveness. We turn from our sins and turn toward You. Keep us from sin we ask in Jesus’ name.”

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Psalms 66 KJV

¹ Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 

² Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

³ Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. 

⁴ All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

⁵ Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

⁶ He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

⁷ He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

⁸ O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:

⁹ Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. 

¹⁰ For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

¹¹ Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

¹² Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place . 

¹³ I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

¹⁴ Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 

¹⁵ I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah. 

¹⁶ Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

¹⁷ I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

¹⁸ If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

¹⁹ But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

²⁰ Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.