Examining the spiritual conditions of our hearts can be a painful procedure. It's also a vital necessity. Even King David, a man after God's own heart,prayed: "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)That prayer of openness and vulnerability before God has been the blueprint for JLM as we have continued looking at the issues of our hearts over the past few weeks. A vital necessity? Absolutely. At the heart of many of our battles are unresolved issues of the heart. And enemies of the heart work their way in through issues of the heart that were never worked out.
This prayer: "Search me, O God, and know my heart..." is one of those prayers that God is ready to answer instantly. I encourage you to pray it, but be ready for the things that will be illuminated in the dark corners of your heart as God shines His light on them. Pray this prayer when you mean it, and God will respond much quicker than you might expect.
During this series, I have been behind the pulpit preaching the messages, but I have not been immune to the conviction and challenges of the Word of God. I have felt God stirring my heart and revealing things that He wants to minister to; areas that I have put band-aids on instead of allowing a complete healing.
How about you? Are you ready to open up to God's close scrutiny? Are there childhood wounds that have dictated the course of your life? Are there old hurts that still cause pain and dominate you? Do you have unresolved issues in your heart that you keep running from or trying to camouflage? One thing I have become more aware of over the past few weeks: God never intended for us to be held captive by these wounds within us. Freedom from them is possible. It begins with vulnerability and humility in the presence of the Beloved Physician.
