Search Me, God, And Know My Heart

Scripture: Psalm 139: 1-4, 23-24

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. ²You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. ³You ^[a]comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Scripture Commentary: God knows your heart and sees your anxieties.

When we say, “Search me,” we are really asking God for help. God knows your heart. He knows the question before we ask. He also knows the answer.

Sometimes we know the answer, too, and it’s no. Don’t ask for what you know is wrong.

Don’t play games with God.

We may want something that we know is wrong but the flesh (Satan) says to ask anyway. This is wrong. God will give if it is His way. In His love for us, God place His Holy Spirit in each of us. In calling on God, His Spirit will always direct us on His path. Before asking to be searched, do an inventory on yourself with the help of the Holy Spirit. And do what the Holy Spirit directs.

We need to have as much respect for ourselves as God has for us.

We are made in His image, and He loved us before we ever knew Him.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm Chapter 139

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Meditate on God’s Word Day and Night

Have Mercy on My Weakness, O Lord

God, A Very Present Help During Trouble

Scripture: Psalm 46: 1-3

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

Scripture Commentary: Make a point to present yourself to God in 2021.

We have just ended the year 2020 and now we are starting the present year, 2021. Some of us have lost loved ones, friends or people we knew. We shed tears, but what kind of tears? Did we cry for joy because we know the person had accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior?

This planet we call home is just a stopping station.

It’s a place to prepare for our eternal home in either heaven or hell. Each day we are given a choice to accept or reject God.

For those who accept Christ, the psalmist says that even if the world ends, we need not fear in the face of utter destruction. The writer expressed a quiet confidence in God’s ability to save him.

God is our refuge at all times and in all things.

Do not be consumed by fear or by what we are going through today with Covid-19. God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. God is not merely a temporary retreat. He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any circumstance now and in the future.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm Chapter 46

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Let Your New Year’s Resolution Be to Learn God’s Word!

Praise the Greatness of Our God

God Hasn’t Given You A Spirit of Fear

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1: 7, 14

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.(7) That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.(14)

Scripture Commentary:

What in your life keeps you up at night and plagues you during the day? Is it the fear of losing your job, spouse, or health? These are some of the things that may be ricocheting through your mind that refuse to be quieted.

In Psalm 139: 23, David asked God to search his heart for there was something David needed to face. After asking God to search his heart, David prayed, “know my anxious thoughts.” He wanted to share his worst with God.

Why do we fear going to God and exposing ourselves with questions and fears that He already knows about?

There is nothing too big for God. There’s nothing He does not already know. Pray to God. He will reveal what holds you hostage and show you how to deal with it.

What we fear the most often reveals where we trust God the least. Our fears matter because ultimately, our fears show how we’re relying on our own self and not God.

You can’t be driven by fear and please, serve and honor God. You must ask God for help.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

2 Timothy Chapter 1

Psalm 139

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Second Timothy:

Jesus Was Raised From the Dead for You

The Last Days Will Be Terrible

Lift Your Eyes to the Lord

Scripture: Psalm 121: 1-7

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? ²My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. ³He will not allow your foot to ^[a]be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.⁵The Lord is your ^[b]keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.⁶The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.⁷ The Lord shall ^[c]preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.

Scripture Commentary: I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord.

When you opened your eyes this morning did you thank God for waking you up? When you are asleep, you lose all control of your body function. God, through His Holy Spirit, has taken over.

The psalm expresses assurance and hope in God’s protection day and night.

God, our Father and Creator, loves and protects us when we are most vulnerable, when we cannot protect ourselves. Never trust a lesser power than God Himself! There is nothing that can distract God, who is all powerful, and watches over us 24/7.

We are safe in God’s hands.

From the time we came into the world, God has been our protector. In God’s presence we have peace and protection. This world cannot provide; only God can.

So tonight thank God for this day that He has given you because you won’t see it again. And pray that He watches over you during the night.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm Chapter 121

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

The Lord Is My Light

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Don’t Worry That You Don’t Understand Everything

Proverbs 20: 24

A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?

Psalm 37: 23-24

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Scripture Commentary: We won’t understand everything.

Proverbs 20: 24 tells us not to worry if we do not understand everything as it happens in our lives. It’s easy to be lost and confused when we deal with worldly events. We make plans and maybe they go the way we planned, and maybe not. God’s time table is His, not ours.

Psalm 37: 23 says the person in whom God delights is one who follows God, and puts their trust in Him. If you let Him, God will direct your steps and will not lead you down the wrong path.

The problems that we will have should not diminish our faith.

God is not giving us a bed of roses type of life. If God did, then we will think we don’t need Him. When we see how God pulls us through the mess we create, we realize that only His love, grace and mercy got us through.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Proverbs Chapter 20

Psalm Chapter 37

2 Corinthians Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from the Old Testament:

Serve Only the Lord Your God

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

Have A Wise and Discerning Heart for God

Scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^[a] ⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Scripture Commentary:

My way is the right way; it’s the only way! Does this sound familiar? These days everyone feels that s/he is wise. We have been told to do some things but for many, those things don’t fit our plans or the way we do things. So we go off doing what we want, not caring who or what it may affect.

We’re all going through a trial in our lives with coronavirus. We have people telling us what to do to be safe, and people telling us to go into the world as if nothing is different and to do what we want.

God has placed His Holy Spirit in us to guide and direct us. As Jesus said, “My people know my voice.”

What is the difference between sound judgment and discernment?

Discernment is the ability God gives us to think and make correct choices. For sound judgment we need to know the voice of God. If it’s not God’s voice we hear, if it’s focused on “me, myself, and I,” then it’s Satan’s.

So the question is are you listening to God or Satan?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Proverbs Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Proverbs:

Trust in the Lord

Use God’s Gifts to You

Trust In the Lord Always

Scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-7

Scripture Commentary:

Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart or do you do things your own way?

I was going to do something in my life. I just knew this was what God planned for me. No one could tell me differently. But as time went by it did not happen. I would say that it was in God’s hands.

As time passed, I found that it was God testing my faith in Him. As I questioned this I realized that God saw the problem that lay ahead. Because it was in His hands, I was able to avoid a costly mistake.

God is the only one to go to and to trust.

We must trust Him completely and not lean on ourselves. He is a better judge of what we need than we are! We must not be wise in our own eyes.

Solomon said we must acknowledge God in all our ways and turn everything over to Him. In many ways you may already acknowledge God, but it is in the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore His influence that will cause you grief.

Trust in the Lord in all things. He will guide you in the path to go because He loves you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Proverbs Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Proverbs:

Knowledge of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

Let God Help You Make Decisions

Do Not Fear; God Is With You

Scripture: Isaiah 41: 10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Scripture Commentary:

God says to followers, “So do not fear, for I am with you.” As our Creator, Father and Maker, He will guide us and protect us at all times. He calls us to a life of thankfulness. Our moments are to be punctuated with thanksgiving.

The basis of our gratitude is His sovereignty. God is Creator and Controller of the universe.

Heaven and earth are filled with His glorious presence.

When we criticize or complain, we are acting as if we think we can run the world better than God does. We need to look at the mess we are in! From our limited human perspective, it may look as if God is mismanaging things. But we don’t know what God knows; we can’t see what He sees.

If God pulled back the curtain to allow us to view heavenly realms, we would understand much more. However, we are designed to live by faith, not by sight.

God shields us from knowing the future or seeing it. Acknowledge His sovereignty. Give thanks in all things. One day He will call us home.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Isaiah Chapter 41

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Isaiah:

Don’t Cut Yourself Off From God

Actively Honor the Lord

Blessed Is the One Who Trusts God

Scripture: Psalm 84: 12

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Scripture: Jeremiah 17: 7

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

Scripture: Matthew 6: 34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Scripture Commentary:

These three Bible chapters and verses stress that blessed is the one who trusts God only. We have a tendency to do things and leave God out. God does not promise us everything we think is good, but He will not withhold what is permanently good.

He gives us the means to walk along His path, but He lets us choose. When we choose to follow God, He will direct us in the way we should go.

Two kinds of people are contrasted in Jeremiah 17:7: those who trust in self and those who trust in God. The people of Judah trusted in false gods; therefore, they were unfruitful. In contrast, those who trusted in the Lord flourished like trees planted by water.

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. It’s difficult to tell the difference. Planning is good but don’t let it interfere with your relationship with God.

As we begin to yield to God, He begins reshaping us into valuable vessels to use.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 84

Jeremiah Chapter 17

Matthew Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary On Trusting God:

Trust God Who Can Do All Things

Praise Ye the Lord, Place Your Trust in Him

Jesus Makes the Rough Places Smooth

Scripture: Isaiah 42: 16

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do;

Scripture Commentary:

God guides us when things are unfamiliar; He dispels the darkness and makes rough places smooth. I was blind but now I can see. This is because God, through His grace and mercy, has taken us out of the darkness of this world and has placed us in His marvelous light.

This was done when the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came into the world and gave His life for our sins. Jesus’s mission here on earth was to demonstrate God’s righteousness and to be a true light in the world

Are you God’s servants?

Through Jesus we have the opportunity to share in His mission. God has called us to be His servants. Are you God’s servants? That is the question being asked.

The road we were on was crooked but because of His love, rough places have become smooth. His brilliant light shows the way. We are given the privilege to take God’s message to the world.

Ask God for His direction.

Don’t rely on your own thoughts. Let Him truly guide you; don’t guide yourself. Let His light shine in the world with brightness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Isaiah Chapter 42

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Isaiah:

Find Security in God’s Plan: See What is Right

Judgment and Hope