In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

Daily Devotional: Search Me, O God

Message by Wil Pounds

Search Me, O God

What shall be our response to the LORD God who knows everything about us all the time? How should we respond to His abiding presence that never leaves us? Because He is all-powerful, how then should we live our lives? Knowing that God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent should make us want to please Him in everything we do.

The Psalmist David did not want to be influenced by evil persons. He did not love the sinner’s life-style. “O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies” (Psalm 139:19-22).

Those are strong words. Do I want to be done with sin? What sins would I ask God to kill in my life? What spiritual enemies in my life need to go? Do you have some intimate friends you need to give up for your spiritual good? Are you willing to give up those relationships that make you and open target for temptation to do evil? That was David’s attitude in verses 19-22.

Moreover, David went a step further and prayed that God would enable him to continue to grow in righteousness. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24).

David used the word “search” meaning to explore, dig, probe, examine, and investigate.

Jeremiah was told, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:10).

He searches and He knows the secrets of our hearts (Ps. 44:21). “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

David pleads for God to search him out and lead him in “the everlasting way” (v.24).

We have so many blind spots that we need the diligent probing of the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts. We need Him to search “and know my heart,” “know my anxious thoughts,” and reveal what is the cause of pain to God. See if there is any hurtful way in me.”

How do I cause the Holy Spirit to grieve? “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:29-32).

The context tells us how we cause pain to our Lord. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice must be put away and replaced with kindness toward one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Eph. 4:31-32).

The greatest encouragement for the believer in Christ Jesus is to enter into the presence of an all-seeing, all-knowing God who knows us intimately. Because we have been justified by grace though faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and the Holy Spirit indwells us, we can stand in His light and be examined by His holy presence. We can allow Him to examine our thoughts, attitudes and heart’s desires and then “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

David models this desire for us. There is willingness to put away anything which is grievous to God and to His Spirit and to be led in the way everlasting. When we find sin in our hearts there is a spiritual bar of soap that cleanses of every sin (1 John 1:8-9).

Selah!

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006