“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

—Psalm 139:23–24

After Adam and Eve sinned against God in the garden, they ran and hid from Him. Sometimes in our fallen human nature we do the same thing. But the psalmist’s words in today’s verse teach us to do the opposite. He trusted in HaShem’s love for him and put himself in a position of humility and said to the Lord, “I don’t know myself, but You do. Search me and know me. Let me know if there’s any impure way in me.” Instead of running, the psalmist put himself in the light of God’s presence and said, “Lord, if there’s something wrong in me, show me what it is because I want to live a pure life before You. Forgive me and cleanse me.”

I wonder, Are you and I doing that in our lives? We don’t have to be afraid of God because He already knows everything about us. He already knows what’s going on in our lives, and He wants to deliver us. But for that to happen, we need to allow Him to bring into the light those things in our soul or in our thoughts that may be hiding in the darkness.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find that I have a bad attitude, and I don’t know why. So I say, “Lord, I don’t know what the root of this is. I don’t know why I have this negative attitude. But Father, I ask You to root it out of me. Try me, test me, and purify me. And whatever is at the root of this thing, Father, I ask You to wash me of it by Your Spirit and Word through the blood of Messiah Jesus.” Only when we invite Him in to bring what’s hidden in our hearts into the light will we be healed. Whatever comes into the light becomes light.

Beloved, don’t be like a cockroach that hides in the darkness. Have confidence in God’s great love for you. Open up to Him, and let Him transform you by His Word.

Father God, search my heart and know me. Expose anything in my heart that is not like You and cleanse me through the blood of Jesus. I want my life to be pleasing to You, so root out anything in me that is not clear and clean like You. Lead me in Your ways of truth.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Divine Truth (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.