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.”