Psalms 139:23-24 - "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"
Like when James and John ask Jesus for places of honor on His right and left (Mark 10:35-37).
Or when they don't understand what Jesus is trying to tell them but are too afraid of looking foolish to ask (Matthew 17:23; Mark 9:32).
Or how about when they disciples ask Jesus to send hungry people away after they have already witnessed Him feed thousands (Mark 6:36; Matthew 14:17; Luke 9:12).
It's really amazing just how oblivious the apostles were to the message Jesus gave them for 3 years straight.
But before we judge too harshly, we should ask ourselves in what ways we do the same. We should realize that we act just as clueless when it comes to God's standards on a routine basis.
What are we completely missing because it seems so "normal" in our society?
What thoughts and actions are so embedded by our culture, we don't even realize they are harmful to our spiritual development?
What direction has God clearly given us about how to serve His broader kingdom that we ignore in place of service to our comfort zone?
You see, we likely act just as dimwitted (if not more dimwitted) than Jesus' apostles centuries ago!
We even have an advantage. We have the whole story clearly explained in His Word. We have the ultimate reference guide for everything we need to know about how to model Christ - in thought and deed - for the world around us.
But even with that knowledge, we are continually distracted away from spiritual priorities in place of our own. We serve our families and our coworkers all day long to the exclusion of quiet time in the Word.
And that's where the power of this memory verse from the book of Psalms lies.
This verse provides a powerful prayer for anyone brave enough to pray it.
Notice how the psalmist actually asks the all-knowing Lord to search his heart for anything that is offensive. He wisely asks the Lord directly to show him what he is missing. He does this with the intent of getting righteous with the Lord... of growing spiritually.
We should all be so brave as to pray this verse routinely!
But it takes great courage.
Many of us would rather act like the stereotype who avoids the doctor to stay healthy. He figures avoiding the doctor is the best way to avoid being diagnosed with any illness.
Of course, that's just foolish. Ignoring health problems does not fix them. Rather, they tend to get worse.
Claiming ignorance about God's ways doesn't help either. We don't avoid accountability before a righteous Lord. He has provided His Word and expects us to consume it. It is the only way to know and then apply the holiness God seeks to develop in us.
Consider how being ignorant about where we are living outside of God's boundaries does not protect us from the consequences of our sin. Those who choose lifestyles of hatred, envy, greed, and promiscuity experience the consequences of those choices whether or not they are aware at the time.
How amazing that we have a Lord who will help us see the err of our ways so we may correct them! We only need to be brave enough to ask.
Apply This:
1. Make this verse your prayer at least twice a day for the next 7 days
2. Listen for God's response
3. Work on whatever the Lord reveals while you are listening throughout the days
4. Pray for courage to routinely pray this verse
