Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, 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.”
Pastor Herk continues: In praying this prayer of King David (above), God will help us better understand our hearts and, in the process, draw us closer to Him. But, we have to be willing to seek God and ask the Lord to examine our heart, then listen to what He has to say. This is a prayer to expose flaws in character and sinful flesh desires (i.e. immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, addictions, hatred, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, laziness, selfish ambition, pride, dissension, division, envy, prejudice, materialism, or hedonism) and order to repent and correct. God wants to hear, feel our pain in our heart, commune with us, forgive us and heal us unto righteousness. So, if you are serious on being right with God, improve your godly character and draw closer to the Lord, then this is a good prayer for you to pray. Be vulnerable and ask God to search your heart, then He will faithfully reveal everything to you and where your trust is, so you can better understand your fears, and recognize your sin.
Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
In the things in life that we are not trusting God, we need to change and draw closer. We are asking God to come closer to us and search us, so that we can ultimately draw closer to Him with clean and pure hearts. Are you serving the Lord? Are you attending and serving Christ’s church? Are you cheerfully giving from your first fruits? Do justly. Pray: See if there is any offensive way in me. We should be desiring to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, doing that which is “right” in the eyes of the Lord. The word “right” is in terms of in morals and religion, just; equitable; accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God, which is consonant to his will or law; this being the only perfect standard of truth and justice. The righteous person is defined as being “Just”; accordant to the divine law. It denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man or woman. Therefore, righteousness is purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion in relationship.
It is a powerful, intense and God-honoring prayer and takes a lot of courage and trust. But, do we really what to change what God reveals to us as offensive? Do we trust that God really loves us, cares, communicates, provides and protects? Do we fear letting our heavenly Father down by not living up to His perfect Word, will and Way? Do we fear punishment for the “wrongs” that we have done? By asking God to sincerely show us anything that in our life that offends and displeasing Him, we are humbly demonstrating our awe, honor and respect to our heavenly Father in requesting help to change for the better, and that is the attitude and action that the Lord desires from us. Sometimes, it is difficult to see sin as sin and the most common lies are the ones that we tell ourselves. Jesus tells us in John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. The Vinedresser is God and He is in the abundant good fruit business. He prunes off that which is unproductive. Pray: Trim me and make me fruitful in this vineyard in which you planted me.
When you give God permission to point out any sin that is dwelling, suppressed, or deny within your heart and hold it right in front of your face, the conviction and guilt drives us to repentance and our blessed Savior for forgiveness and reconciliation. The Lord will reveal character issues on our lives that need to be worked on in our sanctification walk. Have the courage to make the changes that the Lord is asking you to make. The best way to start is by confession (acknowledgment of sin or character failure with an open declaration of guilt). Repent of it, then ask for His help in overcoming it. It is important to be a part of the body of Christ in the local church. When we go through our struggles, we have the community of Believers around us to encourage us, pray for us and help us through the hard times with their love and wisdom. The Christian church is a place where imperfect people are being transformed by a perfect God. Almighty God and the church hold us up.
We are reminded of how much we need and depend upon Jesus Christ, with the life-giving grace and mercy that He offers us. God’s grace means that we receive what we do not deserve. God’s mercy means that we do not receive what we truly deserve. Humble yourself in that fact, yet embrace God’s power because “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:14-17).” We need His truth to renew our minds and transform our hearts. Fall so much in Christ that you dare to send up dangerous prayers. Heaven is our home.
Lead me in the way everlasting.
In Christ, Brian
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