Psalms 139: 23-24
‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.’
Have you ever had a long conversation with the Lord? By “long,” I mean it took days and weeks. You could’ve wondered, “Why is the Lord not talking to me anymore?” or “Am I missing something? I don’t understand you, Lord.” You reach a point when you stop seeking answers to your prayers from His word, stop praying for what your heart yearns for, and instead put God’s words in your prayer.
Let’s go back to the scriptures we’ve read in the past devotional guides: “…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:22-24).” And, “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:9-10).”
Both emphasize putting off our old selves and habits and replacing them with our new nature. It’s a reminder that God created us for great things but sometimes, our old ways block our growth and opportunity to achieve those. Aren’t we grateful that the command to “put off our old self” comes with the fact that we can do so because we already have a new identity?
However, it begs the question, “What are my old habits, ways of life, and thoughts that you wanna uproot, Lord?” We could pray like how King David articulated it so well in Psalms 139: 23-24:
‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.’
This is another testimony of how “the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26),” including prayers that we haven’t fully comprehended to be able to articulate in our own words. It clues where we might start self-examination: our heart’s desires, anxieties, habits, or manners that often offend others. Not all of them are evil, but the Holy Spirit is there to help us sift through.
As the African proverb says, “A cat that dreams of becoming a lion must begin with losing appetite for rats.” Likewise, let us pray and ask the Lord what those “rats” in our lives distract us from what God prepared us for.
Godseekers, it’s not easy to wean from our old diets. It is much like how babies struggle to shift from breast milk to solid food. They squint and gag, yet as they learn to eat more adult food, their world widens, their palette can enjoy more flavors and textures, and they experience a new world unknown to them. We can miss what God has prepared for us if we do not relinquish our anxieties and old, sinful ways.
Prayer
Lord God- the creator of all the universe, the one who orders when tides change and volcanoes erupt, the one who makes the seed sprout and flowers bloom, thank you for being so sweet and thoughtful that you stay with us through this whole process of life. From giving us the command to put off our old self to giving us our new identity, to praying for what needs to be uprooted, up to accomplishing it; you are with us. Reveal to us what you want us to outgrow from. Show us what or who you want to remove from our hearts and lives so we can chase after you and what truly matters. Holy Spirit, we ask for wisdom, courage, and comfort to face this refining process. Though it won’t be easy, we trust it is for our best. We lift this all up to you, through the mighty name of Jesus, our high priest and advocate, Amen.
Personal reflection
- Reflect on times when you prayed so hard for or held on so tight to something yet God didn’t give it to you (or did not give it to you sooner than you would have wanted), but when He did, it was so much sweeter and more than you could ever imagine and ask for.
- Think of possible “old clothes” and “rats” in your life. What might be hindering you from letting go of them?
Step of Faith
Thank God, just savor that moment of gratitude for the Lord, for his faithfulness, and let it be your anesthesia that helps relieve the discomfort of this refining journey. Look again at your list of “old clothes and rats” and compare it side by side with the honest, pure intentions of the Lord for you. Share it with a trusted spiritual mentor or friend and pray about it together.
