Psalm 51; 1 John 1:5-7



• What is standing in the way of a deeper relationship with God? 
• What is holding you back from living and loving like Jesus? 

It might be self-centeredness, spiritual indifference, an unwillingness to share your faith with others, putting time spent in prayer and study of God’s Word low on your priority list, or struggling to love your neighbors and treat them with kindness. 

• Confess your shortcomings and ask God to work in your heart during this time of prayer and fasting.
• Examine your heart. Ask God to help you see your brokenness clearly so that you can confess your sins and repent. In Scripture, God frequently calls upon people to repent of their sins before listening to their prayers. 

After examining your heart - God wants you to hide His Word in your heart: 

“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” (Ps. 119:11).

“The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip.” (Ps. 37:31)

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” (Dt. 6:6)

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”’ (Jer. 31:33)

• If you hide God’s Word in your heart, the Holy Spirit can still guide you when the world ridicules God’s Word. Choose a scripture to memorize these coming weeks.

Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing the idols in my heart and the things that I’ve been treasuring more than you. Continue your purifying work today by exposing the areas of disobedience in my life. Remind me of the directions you’ve given that I’ve ignored. Show me your ways of love that I’m not walking in. Use these passages and songs to encourage me to let go of my ways and embrace the Kingdom way. Motivate me to freely and generously give as I have freely and generously received.  May I treasure Your word in my heart. Amen.