“Search Me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my
thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
“I
got a phone call in the middle of the day from my son Preston. He was calling
from the nurse’s office at the school. Here’s how the conversation went:
‘Hey, Mom. It’s Preston. I’m not
feeling well, and I have a temperature of 96.5. Can you come get me?’ ‘96.5
degrees?’ I asked. ‘Honey, that’s below normal! That doesn’t sound right.’ ‘I
know,’ he said, ‘but I don’t feel well. Can you please come pick me up?’ ‘Sure,
honey. I’ll be right there.’
I chuckled the whole way to the school
at what he had said. Surely he misread
the thermometer! A normal temperature is 98.6. Something was off. I got to the
school in a North Carolina minute and headed straight to the nurse’s office.
While Preston packed his bag to go home, I spoke privately to the school nurse.
With a grin on her face, she explained to me that Preston was resistant to
putting the thermometer under his tongue as she had instructed him to do. He
wasn’t comfortable with that. ‘So,’ she said, ‘he held the thermometer between
his lips.’ The nurse and I exchanged amused glances as I thanked her for
helping my son.
Although
Preston knew something wasn’t right with his body, the nurse didn’t get an
accurate temperature reading because he didn’t place the thermometer deep
enough into his mouth. He didn’t let it probe past the surface of his lips.
Later
that night, as I thought back on the day, the Lord spoke to my heart. I
realized that I’m often as stubborn as Preston because there are many times
when I resist having an accurate reading of my spiritual wellness taken. Times
when I won’t let Him probe past the surface of my heart, my actions, my
attitudes, and my perspective - to allow God to reveal the accurate spiritual
temperature of my life. Times when I’m not comfortable with deeper-level stuff…
when I won’t sit still to listen.
I
was disturbed by that thought.
I
needed to be disturbed by that thought. By that truth. Just because I’ve been a
Christian for a long time does not mean that I’m always in perfect spiritual
health. In fact, the more I learn about God’s holiness through the Bible, the
more I realize how much I need His grace and strength every minute of every
day.
You
might not ‘feel well’ today. Perhaps you have spiritual indigestion from your
marriage, your children, your friendships, your finances, your singleness, your
conversations. You could be ‘sick’ from the shows you watch, the internet
relationships you’ve developed, the gossip or harsh words you allow to pass
from your lips, the jealousy you feel in your heart. Maybe you haven’t allowed
your heart to be probed recently... you’ve been resistant because you don’t
like to feel uncomfortable, convicted or exposed.
The
Bible tells us that the kindness of God leads us to repentance, and repentance
leads us to restoration. To wellness and holiness in Christ. What’s your
spiritual temperature? Are you hot or cold? Is the flame of faith in your heart
fading or raging? Have you sat still long enough lately to ask God to search
your heart? It’s time for an accurate reading, friend.
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to
strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2
Chronicles 16:9, NIV
Let’s Pray
Holy
Father, as the psalmist prayed, I ask that you would, “search me, O God, and know my heart! Try
me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead
me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV).
In
Jesus’ Name,
Amen.”
Be sure to check out tonight's post: AFTER SURRENDER, WHAT? [Originally posted 10/13/11]
jowildflowers@gmail.com www.jean-oathout.blogspot.com
Tomorrow’s post:
COULD
THIS BE TRUE OF ME? by
Oswald
Chambers
No comments:
Post a Comment