Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; not His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has uttered perversity.
Isaiah 59:2 NKJV
Yesterday, we talked about being afraid when we deliberately sin or perpetrate evil. The reason we should be afraid is when we do these things we separate ourselves from God. God cannot be a part of lying or sinning or anything evil, so when we think and do these things we separate ourselves from Him. When the Bible tells us do not fear it is typically accompanied by telling us that the LORD is with us.
In Deuteronomy 31:6 God told Moses as they would have to fight the inhabitants of the Promised Land they were about to enter. But He also told Moses, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
So, if God doesn’t ever leave us or forsake us, how do we become separated from Him? Good question, actually we are the one who leaves and forsakes Him when we choose sin over righteousness. When we choose to go against God and do the things the Bible tells us not to do or refuse to do what it tells us to do, we separate ourselves from Him.
We are the ones who walk away. We may still sit on a church pew every Sunday, but if we have sin in our heart, we have separated ourselves from God. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
If you are praying to God for something but not getting an answer, ask yourself if you have separated yourself from God through your sin. Pray Psalm 139:23-24 which says, “Search me, O God, and know my anxieties (or my heart); and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
If you are a true crime fan like me, you know the enemy is most likely to attack when the victim is alone and vulnerable. When we separate ourselves from the Lord, we are alone and vulnerable and open to enemy attack. This is why we must heed 1 Peter 5:8 which tells us to remain sober and alert for the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. When we continually seek the Lord with all our heart and strive to do what His word tells us to do, we are never alone.
Fortunately, if you have separated yourself from God, you can get back to Him. James 4:8 tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us. It goes on to say, cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts you double-minded. Note that it doesn’t say we have to clean up before going to God, it tells us first to draw near to God and then to clean up. God will help you clean up and purify your heart if you will only draw near and ask Him.
Many of us lose trust in God because we pray for things and feel he never answers. He won’t answer if He can’t hear. He can’t hear if you have separated yourself from Him. Do a little self-check to see if you have unrepented sin in your life that is separating you from God and causing your prayers to go unanswered.
Turn to Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sin and remove the temptation. He will be glad to help and happy to draw near to you.
God wants us to be in close relationship with Him. He created us for this purpose. Turn to Him today. Be sure He can hear your prayers.
Have a great day!