If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.

But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

Psalm 66:18-20

The Lord never changes – but our understanding of Him does.

How do we grow in the knowledge of our Creator? By swimming deeper and deeper into the waters of His word; letting the Holy Spirit wash us with wisdom and weight as we worship Him.

I love this passage. Though it might make some scared, it makes me feel safe.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.

How deep His love for me that His kindness would not let me sit in darkness, sold to a sketchy scene of “grace” that does not save. He saved me to Himself.

And in order for me to stay with Him, I need to know who He is.

He is love. He is grace. He is holiness. And His grace opens our eyes to both the sickness of our sin and the saving power of His life in us, that which enables us to inhabit His holiness.

Reverend Charles Spurgeon says, “Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, not the apologist of sin.”

Grace says, “Gina, my beloved daughter. I see that iniquity clinging to the crevices of your heart. Set it free. Don’t cherish it. I do not change, but you do. Let me into your heart, that I may listen to You.”

And so, I pray, “Lord, help. Help me shed light on this iniquity with my fellow sisters. As I delight in you, turn my desires towards you. Strip me from this sin; for I need you to hear my prayers. Living without your help is not an option. Do not turn your servant away – for You have been my help.”

That’s a prayer He will not reject.