Acts 8:22 English Standard Version (ESV) Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
Yesterday it was implied that Christ can only manifest Himself thru us if we stop sinning intentionally. That comment takes some explaining.
1 John 1:8-10 English Standard Version
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We all have sin and we do sin, but it is an accident of birth not the intentions of the heart. God is more concerned with the intentions of the heart than the actual act itself.
Hebrews 4:12 English Standard Version
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word of God, the Word of Truth, cuts like a cleaver to separate our thoughts from our intentions. The passages in 1 John 1 make it clear that we can and do lie to ourselves but we cannot lie to God. To be able to discern from thoughts and intentions of the heart, the Word of God has to be imbedded in both the mind and the heart.
The Word in our heart is who we are.
The Word in our mind reminds us of who we are.
The Word of God is active and living in both or we will be constantly at odds with ourselves as to what to believe and how to act.
The Word in our hearts is always true.
The Word in our mind is always active, correcting our thoughts to align them with He who is True.