Asking God to Examine our Hearts
By Andrea Chatelain
“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.” Psalm 26:2
I cringe reading today’s verse. Why would I want God to try me or test my heart and mind? There’s a lifetime of junk built up on the walls of my heart. There’s calluses from hurts and memories of sin I wish I could forget. And my mind is often jumbled with insecurity and doubt, not perfect faith. But that’s exactly why I need the best doctor to perform a heart and mind scan. So I can be healed.
The verse that follows reveals the reason the psalmist is so confident asking for God’s examination. He says in verse three, “for I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.”
The psalmist requested God’s heart scan and trusted the results because he knew God would perform it lovingly and faithfully.We too can trust Him to search our deepest desires and tenderly lead us to truth. Sometimes His truth can be hard to hear, but it will help us battle negative or sinful thoughts and produce a healthy soul and mind.
I need help with that. I need God to come in and show me which thoughts are of faith and which are of fright. I need His surgical hand to cut out anything that isn’t love or truth. I don’t always know the difference, but the Holy Spirit does and He will show me what’s right as I read my Bible. My recovery from God’s heart surgery may take some time, but it will make me stronger.
Andrea Chatelain’s mission is to meet women in their struggles and love them forward with God’s truth. She's part of the Wholly Loved Ministries team, is a Midwest mom of three, faith and family writer, and college English instructor to immigrants and refugees. It’s her joy to lead Bible studies in her neighborhood, church, and community because she believes Jesus transforms lives when His people boldly seek Him. Her writing reflects her love for Jesus and heart for fellow believers. Connect with Andrea more online at www.afruitfulwoman.com.
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Originally published Monday, 25 March 2024.
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