Recognize the Rift
“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” – Psalm 66:18
Sometimes the hardest part of spiritual growth is being honest with yourself. Not honest about what other people do or how they’ve hurt you, but honest about what’s living in your own heart. That’s where the real work starts. Jesus said if you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go make it right. That’s not about them, it’s about you. God wants you to recognize the rift.
Maybe it’s a sin you’ve tolerated for too long. Something you’ve explained away or minimized. It could be pride, anger, bitterness, or a secret habit that no one else sees but you know is there. Or maybe it’s a broken relationship you’ve ignored because it feels too messy or painful to fix. Whatever it is, you’ve learned how to carry it without dealing with it. But even if you’ve learned to live with the weight, that doesn’t mean God is fine with it.
Psalm 66 says if you cherish sin in your heart, God won’t listen. That’s a sobering thought. God isn’t interested in surface-level religion. He’s after full surrender. And until you’re willing to face the rift, your connection with Him will always feel off. It’s like trying to worship with the volume turned down or pray while the line is disconnected. Something’s in the way. And that something might be you.
The good news is that God doesn’t leave us there. His Spirit will press on your heart, not to shame you, but to free you. He convicts to restore, not to condemn. So the question is, are you willing to be honest? Are you willing to look in the mirror and admit that something needs to change?
Before you rush into another worship service or post another Bible verse, pause. Ask God to search your heart. Confess what needs to be confessed. Acknowledge what you’ve ignored. Recognize the rift. Because that’s the first step to healing what’s been broken and reconnecting with the One who’s been waiting for you to come clean.
Sometimes the hardest part of spiritual growth is being honest with yourself. Not honest about what other people do or how they’ve hurt you, but honest about what’s living in your own heart. That’s where the real work starts. Jesus said if you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go make it right. That’s not about them, it’s about you. God wants you to recognize the rift.
Maybe it’s a sin you’ve tolerated for too long. Something you’ve explained away or minimized. It could be pride, anger, bitterness, or a secret habit that no one else sees but you know is there. Or maybe it’s a broken relationship you’ve ignored because it feels too messy or painful to fix. Whatever it is, you’ve learned how to carry it without dealing with it. But even if you’ve learned to live with the weight, that doesn’t mean God is fine with it.
Psalm 66 says if you cherish sin in your heart, God won’t listen. That’s a sobering thought. God isn’t interested in surface-level religion. He’s after full surrender. And until you’re willing to face the rift, your connection with Him will always feel off. It’s like trying to worship with the volume turned down or pray while the line is disconnected. Something’s in the way. And that something might be you.
The good news is that God doesn’t leave us there. His Spirit will press on your heart, not to shame you, but to free you. He convicts to restore, not to condemn. So the question is, are you willing to be honest? Are you willing to look in the mirror and admit that something needs to change?
Before you rush into another worship service or post another Bible verse, pause. Ask God to search your heart. Confess what needs to be confessed. Acknowledge what you’ve ignored. Recognize the rift. Because that’s the first step to healing what’s been broken and reconnecting with the One who’s been waiting for you to come clean.
Subscribe
If you were blessed by or directly benefited from this content, please subscribe to receive receive daily devotions to your inbox.
No Comments