Sin separates us from God.
Not just for eternity, but here and now.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
But who is righteous? He who does not sin.
If you want to walk with the Lord, and for your prayers to be powerful and effective, and for your life to be used by God, you need to be holy as the Lord is holy.
God can use (and does use) sinful people, but if you are walking in sin, then you are walking in darkness, and the light of God will be hidden.
We mistakenly become legalistic and obsessed with rules and laws, and focus on works.
Works and rules obviously do not earn salvation for us, but we mistakenly elevate obedience to become performance-based.
In reality, however, we do not earn anything, but we make ourselves more usable.
So placing emphasis on what we do will directly impact how we live.
Do you want the Spirit of God to indwell you, and to impart wisdom, and speak to you and through you with power and effectiveness? Be a righteous man.
You do not need to be a perfect man, because only Jesus was perfect. But do not live in sin. Do not walk in sin. Do not continue to sin.
Confess your sins and be healed.
Confess your sins and be purified.
Confess your sins and be filled.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16