Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 82 – Psalm 139:23-24 – Search Me – Growing As Disciples
Search me, O 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. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Search Me
I’m not sure if this is the best or worst time to pray this prayer. Why is that? I am so frustrated. I am absolutely churning inside. There is no calm within. Do you mean to say that you are angry? Yes, I am angry. Do you have ample reason to be angry? Are you justified in being as angry as you are? Probably not. Do you think that I am pleased with your anger? Certainly not. Have you let a relatively minor situation get the best of you? Without, a doubt. Have you lost all your perspective and allowed yourself to overcome with emotion? There is no doubt about it. Guess what. What? This is a perfect time to draw near to me. This is an ideal time to ask me to search you to remove any offensive way that is within you. Why is that? What is at the surface? What has coming bubbling out of you? What is obvious for both of us to see? I can see that I am unnecessarily angry. I can see that I have foolishly let something upset me. I have let a minor detail in life cause me to lose all perspective. That is good. What is good about that? It is good that you see these things. It is great that you are confessing them to me. You are not trying to hide anything from me. No, I am not. That’s very good isn’t it? Yes, I can see that now.
What would you like me to do for you? I would like you to forgive me. You are forgiven. I would also like you to search me. That is never hard for you, but it is especially easy today. Yes, it is. Well, I would like you to remove this anger from me. What anger? Yes, I get it. You have already removed this anger from me. Is there something else that you would like me to do for you? Yes, I would like you to help me to overcome situations that might be frustrating. I would like you to give me victory over anger. What do I want you to do? You want me to be quick to listen, slow to speak and be slow to become angry. Yes, I do. That’s what I want as well. Good, I will hear and answer your prayer. I will lead you in my everlasting way. You will live the life that I am calling you to live. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I welcome you to search me. I don’t confidently say that thinking you will find no offensive way that is within me. Just the opposite is true; I am sure you will find an offensive way in me that certainly needs to be removed. I welcome your work in me. Amen
Key Question… How has God used His word as a tool to search your thoughts and words and actions?
Living It Out… Ask the Lord to search you and remove any offensive way that is within you.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will search you and remove any offensive way in you.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group an offensive way that the Lord has removed from your life.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to search you and remove any offensive way in you.
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