Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It may be a difficult thing to ask of God, knowing as we do our own propensity for evil, for Him to search and know what is in our hearts and our thoughts. Of course, he examines our hearts every moment without needing our permission. He knows every thought that passes through our minds without us having to tell Him what we are thinking about. If He already knows everything in our hearts and minds, why would we need to ask Him to search our hearts?

It is not so that God may know what we are thinking, but so that we may know what kind of things may be lurking deep in our hearts and minds without us even realizing it. It is a heart that longs to be clean and pure before the Lord that makes this cry for God’s careful examination. A heart that longs to please God would desire to know what hidden evils may need to be purged, what sins forsaken, what unrighteous desires snuffed out. If we know what is wrong about us, we can seek to make it right. And we need to see ourselves through God’s lens of truth, not our own biased judgment of ourselves.

If we’re going the wrong way in some area of our life, God can reveal that to us. And He will gladly take us by the hand and lead us in the right direction. If some trap ensnares us, He can show us the way out. When sin clouds our judgment, His breath blows away the fog so we can see ourselves clearly, know what wickedness has taken hold, and repent of our sinful behavior. Anything hidden can be brought to light if we are truly willing to see ourselves for who we really are.

Yes, it might be a painful process. We might be repulsed by the things unearthed from the very core of each of us. But the blessing of a heart and life right with God far surpasses the discomfort we’ll experience along the way. God is in the business of restoring and rebuilding, and it will only be to our benefit to seek God’s help in looking deep inside ourselves and adjusting our course to match His way. Let’s make a habit of asking God to search our hearts and share with us what He finds there. Let’s work on making right the things He reveals to us as we grow closer to Him. And let’s seek His leading and His way above all else.