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Search Me, O God (Psalm 139:23 - 24)

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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.

Stephen Covey stated that “We judge ourselves by our intentions. And others by their actions.”

I have thought much about it and realized that this is quite true. Covey was implying that we ought to be aware of our hypocrisy when we make our judgments on others based on our own good, but often flawed, intentions.

Hypocrisy is a real problem! In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law of their hypocrisies. They seemed righteous on the outside but were wicked on the inside. In Isaiah, we will find God confronting His people of their hypocritical worship for they worshipped him with their lips but their hearts were far away, for they do not fear Him (Isaiah 29:13-14).

What do you suppose God will find in your heart? Will He find a true worshipper or a hypocrite? Will He find a heart that delights in Him or despises Him? Jesus made it clear in Matthew 7:3-5 that we ought to pull the plank from our own eyes before trying to take the speck from a brother’s eye. Being aware of our own insecurities, weaknesses and prejudices is a start to breaking away from hypocrisy i.e., “pulling the plank in your own eye.”

Today’s reading from Psalm 139:23-24 is a prayer of humility. It calls for us to be vulnerable before God as we ask Him to do a thorough “heart surgery” on us. It is a prayer that implores God to reveal our deepest intentions so that the “plank in your own eye” can be removed.

Would you consider asking the Holy Spirit to search your heart and mind, and reveal to you anything that offenses Him – perhaps your lack of faith, hatred, unforgiveness or disobedience? Friends, if we desire to grow and mature, we must learn to acknowledge and admit our weaknesses and insecurities, especially our deep seeded hypocrisies, and allow the Holy Spirit to wean us from them. Let’s learn from the Psalm and humble ourselves before the Lord.

The Lord be with you always.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, You know my heart and its hypocrisy. Help me by Your power to live a humble and honest life before You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


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