“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:1-4
Many times as a child I would get a splinter in my finger. I remember one time when I tried to pick an object off our wood floor and a small sliver went under one of my fingernails. I was probably about six years old and so I went to my mother. She said it had to come out or it would fester and cause infection. If I am remembering right, she had to use a small paring knife to remove it and I am sure I kept begging her to stop because it hurt so badly. But she ignored my cries and did what she had to do because she knew the consequences if it was not removed.
We cannot hide anything from the Lord. He knows us better than we know ourselves. When we let wrong feelings linger in our heart, they are like a splinter and will spread infection that will eventually destroy us. Maybe someone has said something hurtful to you, and the enemy has convinced you that you have a right to be angry and harbor unforgiveness for that person. If you are not careful, it causes bitterness to grow and you may want to seek revenge. While you keep mulling it over in your heart, and feeling worse all the time, that person may not even realize that they have hurt you.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.: Psalm 139:23-24.
It is important that every day we ask the Lord to search our hearts, to show us of anything that is in there that is not pleasing to Him. Like a splinter in your finger, the sooner you remove what is there, the better you will feel. Secret hurts or sins can control us, but when we give them over to the Lord, we find relief in Him. He knows all about it anyway and is just waiting for us to call on Him for help. What a relief when we turn it all over to Him, and His love and peace fills our soul.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:18
Prayer: Jesus, we ask that you search out our hearts, show us what needs to change, and give us the strength to obey your will.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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