Your Daily Devotional for August 12, 2006

 

August 12, 2006

 

Open Your Heart

By Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“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

 

As we look at these verses today, let’s notice that this is David’s prayer before the Lord. David cried out for the Lord to search his heart and to show him what was wrong. David was so concerned that he might have something in his life that would offend God that he asked God to search his heart.

 

How many times have we gone a full day without taking time to consider our heart? We all have the potential to become hard-hearted if we tolerate sin in our lives. So how do we make sure that our hearts are pure before the Lord?

 

Have you ever done something wrong, asked forgiveness for it, then still felt guilty? Have you ever been so distraught over what you had done that you thought God could never use you again? Whenever you feel like that, just remember what Psalm 32:1-2 says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” God has forgiven you if you have asked Him for forgiveness! He doesn’t even remember your sins once He has forgiven them! Aren’t you thankful that God is a merciful God who forgives?

 

God wants you to open your heart to Him and let Him show you what things you need to confess. We should not continually sin without asking God for forgiveness. I don’t think anyone who is humbly serving God would want to willingly hide sin in his heart, but sometimes we can get so busy that we forget to confess our sins. That is why we must come before Him daily and open our heart.

 

We can sometimes get so busy with the work of God that we forget the health of our relationship with God. Our service to God doesn’t mean anything if our heart is not right with Him. You can have the biggest bus route or the largest Sunday school class and still not have a pure heart before God.

 

It is very easy to become so involved in serving God that things like unconfessed sin get overlooked and soon forgotten. How are you doing in your relationship with God? When was the last time you sat down and took account of your heart? Take time today to open your heart before God and let Him show you its condition.

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