If I’m not fully awake and dialed in, it’s easy for me to “read” something without actually understanding or internalizing it. Even reading aloud, I can start to mentally skim the surface. My mind wanders. Do you have this talent, too? So was the case the other morning, as I read Psalm 66, verses 16-18.
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
Cherished sin. The words were like a speed bump on the page. I was cruising on auto-pilot and BOOM.
It’s counterintuitive to think we cherish sin. “Cherish” means:
- to hold or treat as dear; feel love for
- to care for tenderly; nurture
- to cling fondly to…
Cherish is a pretty, positive verb we reserve for things we love. Sin, we associate with bad, wrong, ugly.
The dissonance got my attention. What are my cherished sins?
What are the sins that you cherish?
Turns out this provocative phrase packs a wallop of truth.
Are there flaws and foolishness that I actually am quite fond of? Um, yes.
Are there transgressions that I feel tender toward? Bad habits I hold dear? Yes.
Are there lapses in my character and behavior that I cling to? That I enjoy and don’t want to let go? Absolutely.
A few personal examples to spark your own:
1. In certain environments and company, I can be a gossip. I like scoop and being the first to know. I am a nosy Nellie. I’m good at keeping confidences, but can struggle with keeping my opinion of others to myself. Just being self-aware here.
Now, I know that gossip is a hurtful, destructive, pointless activity. I know this from being on the other side of it. It is ugly and underhanded and unnecessary. It tears down. It’s rooted in pride. And yet… over a glass of wine or a road trip, I can go there easily.
2. I can be the laziest person ever. I love my sleep. I love laying. I will put off doing laundry because, really, is it worth the effort tonight? Doesn’t catching up on my favorite Bravo show sound better? Sometimes I just want to live a life of leisure and, hello, that is really not my lot as a wife and mother of a toddler. The Bible is pro-rest, but seems to be anti-sloth. Bummer.
No, laziness is a problem. This isn’t cute. It’s real. I’d rather sleep than get up and work out or pray. This means jeopardizing my physical and spiritual health because I need, what, “just 10 more minutes”? I’ll sometimes throw the toy to Luke rather than get my rear up and walk it over. I’d rather take on a tiff with Tim about a week-old pile of laundry than just do the thing. I knowingly do a crappy job cleaning the kitchen so I can get to some online shopping. Again, it goes back to pride. I’m so into “me time” that I sacrifice other essential priorities and tasks. If my laziness is separating me from God and others, it’s a sin.
Yes, this post is confessional, but I really want it to be applicable. Don’t leave me hanging out on this limb; please think of your own cherished sins, people!
There’s a second piece of this Scripture to apply, though, that you can’t afford to miss, and to see it we have to go back to Psalm 66: 18 & 19.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
If we are holding cherished sins in our hearts, the psalmist says the Lord won’t listen.
I am going to assume that everyone reading this wants God to listen to their prayers and take them to heart.
So we have to take Him our hearts: open and repentant.
We have to want change, and if you don’t want it, ASK TO WANT IT!
When we try to hide our pet sins, holding onto them with clenched fists with no intention of letting go while we feign surrender, God is not amused. Deception doesn’t fly with Him. He is authentic as they come and has no tolerance for bull.
Lay it out there. And then consider…What do I want MORE than my cherished sins? What do I want to love MORE?
Relationships of integrity and words that build up VS. Gossip.
Productive days, nights and a peaceful home VS. Laziness.
_____________________________ VS. __________________________
Do I really want these things more? Maybe not today.
But I believe if we come to God with our divided hearts and ask Him to make our impulses and desires more like His, He will listen.
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
(Psalm 66: 20)
Sarah Weller 