Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!Psalm 139:23
The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.
We spend a lot of time in our life worrying. Despite being told not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25), and even though we are told to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6), we still do. Why is that?
There are a lot of reasons that we can be anxious, but many times we cannot figure out the source, or the source that we identify is superficial. Meaning, we may feel anxious and think that it’s because we need a job soon when really we are anxious because we do not trust God to provide for us. It’s hard to know the exact source of our anxiety. We attempt to medicate all sorts of different ways, but unless we get to the root of the issue, we will flounder in our anxiety for much longer than we wish.
What are we to do?
The psalmist wrote,
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
The Hebrew word interpreted “thoughts” in this verse can also be interpreted as “cares.” Some interpretations into English (such as the NASB) read “anxious thoughts.”
We need God. We need Him to help us see what’s in our hearts. At times, we need our neighbor to help us see what’s blocking our view (Matthew 7:3-5), but we need God to examine our heart.
Today I was reminded that I can be critical and negative. I don’t know why I have these faults. I don’t want to see the empty glass or criticize in ways that tear down. It seems that I do this without being aware. I even think of myself as encouraging to others. How can I be so blind? Why is it that I criticize and think negatively? Is there some care or worry deep in my heart that needs healing? I need the Lord to examine my heart. I cannot see.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to invite and allow God to examine your heart. Perhaps today God wants you to recognize that there are cares or worries that you need Him to look at. Maybe today God wants you to change strategies: look to Him instead of looking at your worries.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
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