Friday, July 21, 2017

Search Me, O God

Friday, July 21, 2017
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.  Psalm 139:23-24(NLT)
The Psalmist invited God; you know, the all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing Creator of the universe – that God, to know everything about him from the inside-out.  He invited God to check out all his faults and bring them out for debate and correction!  That would not be a fun time for an introverted, private person like me!  It’s like appearing on national television, emotionally-naked as the day you were born.  
What the Psalmist wrote…pretty scary stuff, I’d say.  After all, why would you want to expose your worst side to the One who could remove you from the universe without breaking a sweat?
But then, notice the end of this invitation: 
…and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
What’s going on in this prayer is that the writer instinctively understands that the grand prize and privilege of eternal life and joy with God, creator and sustainer of all that is seen and unseen in the universe, carries with it the hard work of removing obstacles that would block that relationship.  Sometimes you’ve just got to undergo surgery if you want to get well!
And that’s the whole issue with being in relationship with God; sickness, anger, lust, greed, sloth…all those and more; those are just not welcome in the presence of He who is holy!  And so the Psalm-writer makes it a point to fast and get ready for the operating room, where the Holy Surgeon is going to open his life for examination and cure.

For You Today

When is the last time you opened yourself up to God like that?
If you’re ready…block out the time; hang out the do not disturb sign; turn off the cell and home phones; make sure the TV, CD, DVD, IPad, IPod, and every other usual distraction is turned off…and then hit the knees and write that invitation across your heart:  Search ME, O God!  Then…be quiet!
You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!
NOTES

[i] Title Image: Pixabay.com

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