“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts. 24. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
What would make this prayer daunting to pray? Look at the first four words of the text: “Search me, O God…” David invited the God of the universe, the God who sees all, knows all and is all-powerful to "search him." I would call that pretty daring. God already knows us inside and out, but to invite Him into our innermost and, maybe secret places, is to ask Him to let us know what He knows and change us accordingly. If there is one word that we have problem with when it comes to our “own business” it is change. Let’s see what David was inviting God to search. He asked God to "search me and know my heart.” He is not referring to the pump that makes the blood flow through his body. David is referring to his innermost being, where all of his longings are, and where all of the things that he treasures are. When we say that something is in our hearts, we mean that it is indelibly stamped on our psyche and that we hold it very dear. Some of these things in our hearts may be noble and uplifting, and God could really use those things in our hearts. But some of these things could be trifling, forbidden and just downright sinful. These are the things that we are not likely to want to remove from our hearts unless God intervenes and shows us the error of our ways. Think of some of the things that you hold in your heart, the things are the very dearest to you and see if you would really want to let God in on them. This is what David was inviting God to do in his life. He asked God to “try me and know my thoughts.” Think of the boldness and daring of inviting God to try us based on our thoughts. Are all of your thoughts pure? (Are you laughing yet?) What thoughts have you had lately that you would not really want God to know to know? I’ve got news for you – He already knows your thoughts. (And your heart too, for that matter.) But it will be good for you to invite God into your thoughts in order for Him to purify them. (I’m speaking for myself as well.) Would you want other people to know your thoughts about them? If you wouldn’t, the chances are that your thoughts for them would be frowned upon by God. We need to memorize Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” I think that all of us could use this advice. He asked God to “see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” That is daring, for surely David knew that God would find some wicked way in him. I don’t know whether this psalm was written before Bathsheba or after, but either way, God surely found lust in him. David, like us, wanted God to help him do better, but his self will overcame him in that matter. This is a lesson for us, that when we invite God into our hearts and thoughts, we need to listen to what He finds. However, I think that this kind of praying helped David to live as good a life as he did - his sins notwithstanding. God did not make David perfect, but I think that He kept David out of a lot of things that he would have done had he not prayed prayers like this prayer. How bold are you in inviting God into your heart and thoughts? How bold are you in asking God to search your heart, to know your thoughts and to ask Him to change you. It takes bold praying like this for us to grow and change the things that need changing in our lives. Think honestly about yourself and find any “wicked way” that might be in you and ask God to forgive it and "lead you in the way everlasting." That is good advice for all of us. Bro. Joe
1 Comment
Margaret M Jones
11/20/2015 08:04:41 am
My prayer this morning
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