We’ve been talking about prayer.

Did you know that when it comes to effective prayer, what is happening in your heart matters?

Recently I was struck by Psalm 66:18. The psalmist says: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

When someone “cherishes” something they are adoring it; they are protecting it. That’s how much value it has to us. Well, when the thing we are adoring and protecting in our hearts is iniquity (sin), this works against us.

The honest truth is that all of us sin. Gladly, we are made right with God through what Jesus has done for us on the cross, not through our own moral perfection (which is very good news since we all miss the mark!) But this is about the things we cherish in our hearts. Are we recognizing when we sin, asking for God’s forgiveness, and re-committing to his ways? Or are we cherishing (adoring, protecting) attitudes, decisions and lifestyles which take us in the wrong direction?

This emphasis is confirmed by the apostle Peter: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). We might also think about 1 John 3:22: “whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

Again, none of us are perfect. The psalmist knows it. Peter knows it. John knows it. Jesus knows it. But these verses are an invitation to think proactively about what is happening on the inside of you when you pray. 

Let’s look within and cherish Christlikeness, not iniquity. When we do so, and when we pray, we will be better aligned with the God of all goodness. 

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.