Our chapter today was a tough one for me to write. I think it is the most vulnerable I allowed myself to be in this book. I was nervous sharing it because of what I admitted. If you haven’t read it yet, go read chapter 10, Love Does Not Delight In Evil and come back.
Can you remember a time when my story was a reflection of your heart? I think as we grow in our walk with God we should have the same desire David did when he asked God, “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” (Psalms 139:23-24). But sometimes the search reveals more than we want to know.
The day God revealed my heart I realized that I had lost sight of wisdom and chose to delight in evil…and it was ugly. I was so ashamed of myself and yet I could not bring my heart to make it right. My rights were at stake. I felt I had a right to be “right!” Then I read Psalm 139 and realized this isn’t even close to David’s heart—or God’s. Every time I read this passage I missed a very important truth that I needed to understand.
“God already knows my heart!”
King David was asking God to search his heart, however the purpose wasn’t for God to find out what was going on. The purpose was so God could reveal David’s heart to him. God is omniscient! He knows everything about us. Nothing is hidden from Him because He is everywhere. He is here with me, guiding me as I write to you. And He is with you, speaking to you as you read. Admittedly though, the following verses cause me to fear God in a respectful manner and bring great comfort to me. They are a source of refreshing water to my dry and fearful soul.
Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your Presence. If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You.
Psalms 139:7-12
I love this quote from Renee Swope’s book, A Confident Heart. She said, “God uses conviction lovingly, to show us our sin and lead our hearts to repentance. He does this to draw us away from destructive behavior that hinders our relationship with Him and others. His desire is to bring us out of the darkness of sin and back into the light, so that we can walk with Him in the freedom of forgiveness and the confidence of His love.”
I pray you will take today’s Love Challenge to heart. God wants to reveal any wickedness that is residing within us for the purpose of transforming us. We can’t change something if we don’t know it needs to be changed, right? His goal is that we would become an outward reflection of His inward Glory. God’s inward Glory has a profound effect on our outward appearance. “The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold” (Psalms 45:13). This is another verse for you to consider. The inward glory of the King’s daughter originates in, and is the result of, her calling and being set apart for Him as royalty: “But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly” (Psalm 4:3).
God won’t reject us because we’ve made bad choices today. We are His daughters and He loves us with an everlasting Love. Don’t be satisfied to walk with a heart that delights in seeing others hurt because they hurt you. Though we fail, we know that we can find comfort in God’s Word. No matter what we do or the choices we make, He is with us!
Father, thank You for Your loving heart to guide and direct us. Help us to recognize when You are convicting us. Lord, give us the courage to not only see the sin in our hearts but to repent and change. Thank You for the Cross and the loving way You defend us. Help us to recognize that You are not the source of condemnation but of forgiveness and love. In Jesus name… Amen!
About Cherie Zack
Cherie, thank you for this study today as your words and God’s Word have made me stop and examine my heart. I pray Psalm 139:23,24 and Psalm 19:14 almost every morning because I’ve learned over the years that in my heart and mind is where sin starts. I pray that God convicts me of keeping records of wrongs or delighting in evil before they can take root so I can repent. “An outward reflection of His inward Glory”..I want that in my life!
Thank you for your continued spirit of encouragement, Clella! I truly appreciate your heart for this study. Amen!! I have heard so many women say their hearts are right. But God’s word says otherwise and why we should all do what you are doing. I want to be an outward reflection oh Jesus as well! <3
Ouch! ” a heart that delights in seeing others hurt” that sentence got my attention. Thank you Cherie for sharing something so personal. As usual I have much to ponder. As Clella said, I want my life to be “an outward reflection of His inward Glory”
Hi, Cynder! The statement does cause you to evaluate the emotions you have towards someone. Are they really pure? We can convince ourselves that we are right but, if we look deep enough, we may that we’re not. Praising God because He forgives us 7×70. So glad you are in this study with us! 🙂
cherie, i so appreciate your transparency…here and in yours/rebecca’s book. it is an encouragment to others ’cause “We can’t change something if we don’t know it needs to be changed, right?” and thank you for sharing mrs. swopes’ quote with us…truly God’s conviiction, His reproof and correction are all for our blessing! xo <3