One of the hardest things that we must do as Christians is to examine ourselves. While the Holy Spirit reveals our sins to us, the Bible is still clear about the fact that God wants us to examine ourselves to make sure that we are living out the faith that we claim to have. Many of the great men and women of the Bible prayed to God, asking for Him to examine them so He could reveal any sinful thoughts or behaviors that they may have been dealing with.
When we ask God to examine our hearts and our minds, we are truly throwing open the doors to the most hidden areas of our lives to Him. While we know that we should repent of sinful words and behaviors, have you ever asked God to examine your motives for doing the good things that you do? Have you ever asked Him to take inventory of your perceptions about others? Those are the hard questions that we must ask when examining ourselves. Today, apply these verses and ask God for His help to examine yourself, even the innermost parts of your being.
Pray These Verses
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?
Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
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 of the everlasting.
Psalms 26:1-3 (NIV)
Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the same way that David asked You to examine his thoughts and his heart, I want You to examine me. Paul told the Church at Corinth that they had to examine themselves to make sure that they were truly of the faith, and that’s what I’m doing today. I know that there are things that I’m holding onto in my heart and my life that I need to move past, but I can only do that through the power of Your Holy Spirit. God, examine my motives for doing the good things that I do. If they are impure, show me. Examine my heart and my mind. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Thank God
Heavenly Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit who reveals sin. Thank You for living inside me, and for Your promise to reveal any impurities that I may be holding on to. Most of all, thank You for loving me so much that You want to push me towards purity in Your eyes. In Christ’s name, Amen.