"Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart." Psalm 26:2 NAS

Have you ever asked the Lord to examine you, try you, and test your mind and heart? This is a dangerous question to ask the LORD. A lot of Christians wouldn't dare asking this of the Lord. The repercussions of such a question would reveal the true value in our hearts. The Lord is faithful to grant this request if you are serious about it. It will require some surrender of your rights and will to Him.

In one of the previous devotionals I had put a warning message in the devotional that went something like this. WARNING: Do not pray this prayer if you are not serious about God working in your life." This is not a faint hearted praise song we might sing on Sunday. This is not the heart attitude of a complacent, sitting on the beach far from the waters of service, pew-hugging type of Christian. This is the type of prayer you pray when you want the Lord to work in your life and change your heart for service.

It is a gut wrenching heart cry for Him to bring change in you. In Psalm 139:23-24 King David wrote something similar. It says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way (NAS)." We should always be examining ourselves before the Lord in humility. Are you ready for the Lord to move in your life in such a way that He calls you out to walk in holiness.

In today's society holiness seems to be a thing of the past. It may bring with it the connotation of a person who is the oh so religious and holier than thou. This is an incorrect type of perception of what it means to seek after holiness. An aspect of holiness is examining ourselves before the Lord. It begins with taking an audit of our motives our hearts and ourselves. When we go before the Lord and ask Him to examine us we are surrendering our all to Him for His glory holding nothing back.

This means we give Him permission to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31). We are allowing Him to have the right to reveal even the hidden sins in our life. We are asking for Him to expose and bring to the surface anything that might be causing us harm or hindering our walk. This kind of surrender does not come natural to our flesh. Especially with the areas of our flesh that seem to tempt us the most. How about starting today and asking the Lord to try you. Are you ready for the winepress?

The Lord will for sure move in your life in such a way to produce in you good works. Then you can answer as Paul did when he was challenged and tested. He said, "For our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you (2 Cor 1:12 NAS)." Allow Him to examine your heart today. Seek Him in every area of your life. Have a truly powerful weekend in Christ.

In His furnace,
Adam