Read Psalm 119:105

A healthy fear of God will do much to deter us from sin. When we have a proper fear of the living Lord, we live a cleaner life. 

Any born-again person who sins wilfully has momentarily blocked out his fear of God. You and I can do that. 

When we actively engage in sin, we consciously put aside what we know to be the truth about God. We suppress the knowledge of Him in our hearts and minds. We lie to ourselves by saying, "We'll get by. God won't mind so much." 

I must say that this wholesome fear of the Almighty has turned up missing in our era. And when it is absent, we think we may do as we please. 

You can live as you please if you know you're not being seen and you won't get caught. But if, down deep inside, you know there is a living and holy God who will not let you get away with sin, you will avoid sin at all costs.

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright © 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.