Sin is a condition of the heart. Hard to dispute that. Try as I may; use all the self-help I could get my hands on; use firm resolution; I would still be unable to not sin nor break the hold sin has. Sin’s answer is only found at the cross. It is only found in the mercy and grace of God.

In another devotional book by Tripp, A Shelter in the Time of Storm, (on Psalm 27) which I am working my way through, he wrote the following (and it is part of this week’s devotional):

“I have no resume to hold before You, no track record of accomplishments, no letter of commendation, no rights of birth or ethnicity. I hold nothing that would place You in my debt, nothing could curry your favor, nothing that would obligate you…I stand before you with shoulders bent and hands that are empty. I approach You with no argument in my mind or words to offer in my defense. I stand before you naked and undeserving, broken and weak…So I come before You with this plea: Your mercy. Your mercy is my rest.  Your mercy is my hope. Your mercy makes me bold. Your mercy is all I need. Your mercy tells me You will hear. Your mercy tells me You will act. Your mercy tells me You will forgive…”‘

“Father, I stand before you with nothing. Sin hides in my heart. I have nothing to bring. Nothing to give. Except a surrendered heart and a plea for mercy.”