Saying vs. Knowing!
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear. But certainly God has heard
me; He has attended to the voice of my
prayer."
Psalm 66: 18-19
Why are witnesses in a courtroom required to
swear to tell “the whole truth” when they testify?
So what they say is true matches up with what
they know to be true.
If they are found to be lying—saying one
thing but knowing another—they can be
convicted of perjury and suffer serious
penalties.
God can see into a witness’ heart or mind
to tell whether or not the truth is being told.
In the Old Testament, there were warnings
about coming before God in prayer while
hiding sin in one’s
heart.
In such cases, God turns a deaf ear to the
prayers. And the same is said in the New
Testament. The first step in prayer is
confession leading to cleansing.
When you pray, ask the Holy Spirit
to reveal anything that would hinder
your prayers.
"Prayer will make a man cease
from sin, or sin will entice a
man to cease from prayer."
John Bunyan
