March 7, 2014

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

What a courageous request to make of God.  Asking God to reveal all our "hidden" attitudes, thoughts, and biases.  Bring to mind our anxieties, fears, and hang-ups.

I cannot imagine going to colleagues, friends or even family members and saying, "Okay, lay it on me.  Tell me EVERYTHING that irritates, bothers, or annoys you about me.  Point out all my mistakes and wrong thinking.  Let me have it.  Don't hold back!"  YIKES!!

But we can safely ask this of God.  Why?

First, God's knowledge of us is perfect.  He knows us better than any friend or family member. He knows what our hang-ups truly are.  His revelation will be deeper than the surface habits we have.

Second, God has promised to never give us more than we can handle.  He will reveal to us only what we are prepared to work through at that point in our lives.

Third, God rewards obedience.  In the first chapter of James, we are told that a person who hears and does will be blessed in his doing.  

However, one should not stop there.  If all we do is ask God to reveal to us our hiccups, warts, and imperfections, a deep dark depression would set in for many of us.  The next steps is to ask God to come along side and help us work through whatever He reveals.

Knowledge without action or change is largely useless.  If God reveals a sinful thought pattern, habit, or attitude, the next prayer should be to ask Him for help to correct and redirect.  He will be just as faithful in that as He was in the revelation.

God will not convict without assistance in correction.