The Danger of Willful Sin

Psalm 19: 12-13

¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.

We all have that point of no return, the point at which something inside says, “Are you sure you want to do this?” I am not speaking of the sin hidden from our own eyes. Those are referred to as self-internal errors, the ones the Psalmist states we cannot discern. No, those are revealed over time by God alone.

Willful sin is the kind of sin that comes after the “Are you sure you want to do this?” After making these willful sins, they have a control or rule over you. You all have heard that one lie covers up another, and another, until you look back and your whole life is a lie, that kind of rule or control. Don’t be so quick to say that you don’t suffer from these “willful sins,” because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, meaning we are all willful sinners at the core.

Willful sins are the ones we most eagerly cover up and hide from the people around us. David knew about this willful sin, and in Psalm 19 he asks God to help him. Just as a lie is used to cover up another lie, Solomon writes in Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.”

If you find yourself somehow repeating these willful sins, you might want to park your life bus and reflect on what is controlling you. David knew enough to ask for help because he knew that these willful sins have a way of controlling us and ruling over us.

The movies are all over this type of sin. Normally, we see it in the hands of an evil king or ruler. The climax comes when the evil king realizes the willful sin he has been engaging in has him in a life spiral down, and he finds himself at the mercy of the good guys, having no more control than he once thought he owned. Every day we should all wake up and realize this willful path we are on, and pray that the Lord guides us and keeps us from this willful behavior that leads all of us astray. Turning this verse into your prayer is like this:

Lord, only you can discern my own errors. Forgive me my hidden faults. I pray that you keep me from willful sinning, and how they can rule over me. Help me be blameless and innocent of this great transgression. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We all have a sinner realization moment. It is what you do after that realization comes that births the fruit of the Spirit.

Prayer: Father, help us realize the willful sin in our lives, and I pray for courage and strength to overcome them in Jesus’ name. I also pray that we are bold and courageous in attacking that sin with your Word, and walking in victory over every fiery dart the enemy sends our way. In Jesus’ name, amen.