Today’s reading is Psalm 66.
The psalmist praises God. His voice is full of the glory of God. He not only praises God to God, He praises God to all who will listen. His action is full of worship. His mouth promised votive offerings. His action follows through. However, the psalmist knows right words and right actions do not suffice. He must also have the right heart.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Psalm 66:18
The heart must align with the mouth. If we confess and apologize for sin with our mouths, go through motions of worship with our bodies, but store up, cherish, regard, and hang on to sin in our hearts, God will ignore our pleas.
This, of course, is the problem we often face. We sin. God allows us to face the consequences of our sins. We beg and plead for Him to deliver us from the consequences of our sins, but hope He will allow us to keep hanging on to our sins. As my friend, Terry Francis, recently told me, “We all want God to deliver us from the consequences of our lives, but few of us want God to deliver us from the lives producing the consequences.”
Let us not only confess our sins with our mouths. Let us not only give up our sins with our bodies. Let us also reject and despise our sins with our hearts. Then, and only then, God will hear our pleas for deliverance.
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 66.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 66 prompt or improve your hope in God?
Read the Bible 