Breaking Down Barriers

“Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge."
Psalm 51:4 (NIV)

Imagine a wall outlet with a two-by-four nailed across it. Your cell phone's dying, but you can't plug it in because the board blocks the connection. That's exactly what sin does to your relationship with God.

David understands this when he writes Psalm 51:4: "Against You, You only, have I sinned." Wait, didn't he sin against Bathsheba? Against Uriah, the man he murdered? Against his own kingdom? Yes, but David is saying something here that we often miss. Sin is ultimately against God alone because it breaks communion with Him. Every sin is a personal offense against the One who created you.

Sin clogs up your communication with God like dirt in a line. You won't hear Him the way you should. You'll feel distant. Disconnected. Like your prayers bounce off the ceiling. 

That barrier doesn't destroy your relationship with God if you're His child because your connection with Him is permanent. But it does damage your fellowship with Him. You're still His child, but you're not experiencing His closeness.

The only way to remove that two-by-four is confession and repentance. Jesus promises in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock." When you confess tonight before bed, name the specific sin out loud to the Lord. "God, I lied to my coworker today to make myself look better. I repent of seeking affirmation from others. Help me receive all I need from You." 

Watch Him tear down the barrier and restore the connection. That's how you reconnect with His presence.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for promising to forgive me when I confess my sin to You. Please forgive me for the times I’ve forgotten that all of my sin is ultimately against You first and foremost. Please help me turn from my sin so that there is no barrier between us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.