Praising God as an act of outward obedience is a good thing, but it is only the beginning. If we come to the point where our praise seems to break down, that usually means something more is required.

The price is high – and the paying often painful; we must give up that one thing that blocks our relationship with God.

A Jewish ruler asked Jesus what he had to do to be sure of eternal life. “I have kept all the commandments since I was quite young,” he said. Yet he sensed that something was holding him back from a closer relationship with God.

Jesus told him, One thing you still lack. Sell everything that you have and divide it among the poor, and you will have rich treasures in Heaven. Then come back and follow me. But when the man heard this, he became distressed and very sorrowful, for he was very rich (Luke 18:22-23).

The problem was not the riches, but his love of them. Jesus knew what was in the man’s heart and put his finger on the one thing that blocked his relationship with God. Anything we will not give up is something we consider more important than our relationship with God.

It is a good test question to ask ourselves, “Is there anyone in my life I won’t forgive?” If the answer is yes that stands between us and God.

A lady once told me about her many problems. They included money, health, and family. “I want to turn the whole mess over to God – have even tried thanking Him for it, but things just get worse. Tell me what I must do to break out of this deadlock.”

“Is there anything you know God wants you to do that you don’t want to do?” I asked.

She blushed and said, “Only one thing. I can’t forgive someone – I can’t even talk about it.”

“That is the one thing God wants you to do.”

She was crying, but her face was set. “Then I’ll have to go on suffering – I just can’t forgive.”

Most of us do a pretty good job of hiding the real issues or denying them.  Jeremiah knew something about human nature when he wrote, The heart is the most deceitful thing there is, and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is! Only the Lord knows! He searches all hearts and examines deepest motives… (Jeremiah 17:9-10 TLB).

David was honest enough to say, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts.  Point out anything You find in me that makes You sad and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24 TLB).

If you pray like that, God will answer. He will remind you of what you are trying to hide. Often the answers are found in the painful circumstances under which we feel so burdened. We can thank Him for them because they aren’t meant to punish us, but to bring us closer to Him.

When we know the truth, we must do something about it. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, David said. Anything we hold back from God is sin, and as long as we cling to it, He doesn’t hear us. The only remedy for sin is God’s forgiveness, and that brings us back to the original basis for our relationship with our Creator; we confess our wrong, surrender it to Him, and He forgives.

As long as I live, I will have to depend on His forgiveness. I am more aware of it today than ever before, and I hope I will become even more dependent on it in the future. Are you afraid or ashamed to ask His forgiveness over and over again? Do you think He will get angry or tired of forgiving you?

One day I stood by the ocean with the waves lapping at my feet. A little boy ran down to the water and filled his little plastic bucket to the brim. Then he ran up on the shore to pour the water into a hole he had dug in the sand. Back and forth he ran, and I suddenly realized that God’s forgiveness is as vast as the ocean. We can dip our little buckets again and again, and immediately the water rushes in to replace the little bit we dipped out.  No matter how much we take from the ocean, it will be just as full as when we started.

God’s heart rejoices when His children come to receive His forgiveness. He does not give it grudgingly and say, “There you are back again. When will you ever learn!”  No, each time He sees us come, He says, “I’m so glad you’re back, my child. I forgive you and love you.”

Our trips back to God, who forgives and forgets, are the lifeline of our fellowship with Him. Each time we honestly admit our wrong and surrender it to Him, Christ is given more control over that area of our lives. The change taking place in us may be gradual or instant, but we can be sure it is happening. (Reprint from October 1991)