"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S SEARCHING OUR HEARTS AND LEADING US"
Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;”
Psalm 139:24 “And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.
1. We can pray like David did, and know that we are praying according to the will of God.
Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;”
This is one of those those prayers that is a great example for us.
Many of the prayers in the Bible are prayers we can emulate and repeat to God.
Praying according to God's will is so important.
Praying is to discover God's will not attempt to impose our will on God.
This particular prayer is one that is according to God's will.
It's one that you can pray often, and God will hear and answer and bless you.
2. We can ask God to search our hearts, know our hearts and try us, and know our anxieties.
Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;”
There is much said that's very important in this one short verse.
Here's how it reads in the NLT:
Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.”
That seems to shorten it up a little.
But essentially, the prayer is for God to search or examine our hearts.
It includes a request to know what is in our hearts (which we can't always know apart from God helping us).
Finally, the prayer includes a request for God to test or try our lives, and to know our thoughts.
In other words, it's a prayer that opens up one's heart to God and asks Him to shine His knowledge of our lives into our minds and hearts.
It's a prayer that is asking God to help us understand who we really are and what we really are, and what we really are doing in our lives, and what we really need from Him.
3. We can also pray for two very important blessings from God.
Psalm 139:24 “And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
The first one is to ask God to see if there is any wicked way in our lives.
Or to point out in us, anything that would be offensive to Him.
This is really a prayer to please and honor God by asking His help in revealing our true hearts.
Secondly, it's a prayer asking for help and guidance.
It's a prayer asking the Lord to lead us in the way everlasting.
Or to lead us along the path of everlasting life.
God has a path for us to walk on and a path of following Him in obedience.
Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and they follow Me.
This prayer is along that line.
It's a prayer to be led by God in the path that He has chosen for us.
Questions:
1. Don't you want to pray so as to have your prayers answered?
2. Do you believe that if you pray according to God's will He hears You?
3. Do you believe, truly believe that if you ask God for His will to be revealed He will reveal it to you?
4. Will you try and take this model prayer and put into regular practice in your life?
5. Do you realize what will happen if you pray according to God's will?
6. Do you believe God will do just as He says He will do?
7. Will you take a moment to pray this prayer like David did?
A Prayer:
Father, how we love the Psalms. They seem to resonate so often with what is going on in our lives. They have an attraction to our hearts and we say, yes, that is what I need, that is where I'm at, this is what I want to do with God's will in my life and so on. Father, this is such a great example of a prayer that is pleasing to You, and right along the line of Your will. Will You please help us to make what's in this prayer, a regular part of our own conversation with You, and may we respond in obedience to Your leading. Thank You in advance for what You will do as we pray according to Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
