Test Me

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.

Psalm 26:2

I know what it is to be deceived and manipulated, so do you. We see it played out on television and in the media. I have experienced it first hand, so might have you. So I guard myself from being taken advantage of by others. But what many of us don't realize is that the most destructive deceit comes from ourselves.

I found that I like to convince myself that what I do in life is okay. I hear others do the same. Self-deceit is one of the ways we try to rationalize our own behavior. It's one way we deal with our sin. We pretend that it never happened. And before long we believe ourselves rather than understanding the truth that our sin has a consequence.

There is one person we can never deceive. God won't be tricked by our justifications and rationalizations. Sin is sin. And it needs to be dealt with radically if we are going to get over the self-deceit and self-destruction.

Psalm 26:2 is a powerful prayer. It's a scary prayer. But it's also a prayer that has the power to change my life, and yours. Ask God to reveal the motives behind what you do. Pray for His love and His truth to become the motivating factors in your life. Because as you do, you'll begin to avoid the danger of self-deceit and instead discover the power of living according to God's will.

Try it. I did.

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.