Search me, O God...

Good Morning,

Psalm 139:23-30 (NIV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-30 (NLT)
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

I wondered as I thought about these verses, just how many of us would truly and honestly want God to search us, see if we have any offensive ways in us, and then point them out to us. Now, I think I can safely assume that we'd all like for the Lord to lead us "in the way everlasting" or as the NLT reads, "along the path of everlasting life." But the searching and pointing out part? Well, maybe not so much...you think?

Now, if we're honest with ourselves and fully understanding of God's omniscience then we should be aware that He already knows every step we've taken in this life; every word we've said; be they good steps or bad, righteous words or even maybe a bit blasphemous...He knows. So why the asking of Him to search our hearts and thoughts? It seems a bit redundant, don't you think?

What He said to me was that the asking, and His answering our requests when we ask, isn't for Him at all. No, it's for ME when I ask. His pointing out is for me to more fully understand, if I've lied to myself about what I've done or said...as many of us often do. It's so He can then help me to not only see the errors of my ways but then to help me mend those ways. THAT is when He can "lead me in the way everlasting."

We all have those things that we'd really rather not openly discuss, those things we've done and said, that paint us in a less than marvelous light. Those are the things that we need God to help us to face, to point out to us, so we can be more of what He wants us to be and to do more in service to Him and His kingdom.

Is it easy to go to God and honestly ask Him to point out our shortcomings? No, it isn't. It's even harder to keep our hearts and minds open to listening to Him when He answers us. That's the really hard part because, well, to be honest, it hurts. Sometimes it hurts a lot because we've fallen into habits that are anything by righteous. Here's the thing, though...It's well worth the pain we feel when we can come out the other side knowing that we're doing something about that which has been wrong in our lives.

"Search me, O God...test me...Point out anything that offends you."

Let this be our prayer and, in that prayer, let it be the first step in allowing God to work more fully in our lives.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David