"I Dare You"
Oswald Chambers has said, “The path of peace for us is to hand ourselves over to God and ask Him to search us, not what we think we are, or what other people think we are, or what we persuade ourselves we are or would like to be, but, ‘Search me out, O God, explore me as I really am in Thy sight.”
That is a very bold request, a very daring request! Do we dare ask God to search us? Do we dare invite God to invade our lives, our heart, our very being? Not that He doesn’t already know, but the truth is many times we want to ignore that reality! We put on a façade for others to see. We fool ourselves into believing everything is fine within because we compare ourselves to others. “Well, I’m not as bad as that person”, or “Look at what they are doing, I would never participate in such activities”. One of my favorite attitudes happens in church, when those who are in attendance dismiss their own need, but gladly point out the needs of others. It looks something like this: “Well, I sure am glad so-and-so is here at church, they sure do need to hear this message”. When you and I present these attitudes for others to observe, over time, we convince ourselves it is who we really are, and often times forget that God knows the truth about us!
Instead, let us practice what Oswald Chambers challenges us to do, and what King David dared to pray in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” It is bold, and it is daring, but it is greatly needed. With self-evaluation, comes self-realization. When you dare to ask God to examine your heart, be prepared for conviction and need for repentance. I have often said, when you pray a daring prayer, be ready for an answer! You may not like what God reveals, you may not like the conviction that comes, but when you confess, and repent of what is revealed, you will find a Heavenly Father, ready to forgive and eager to lead you in the way everlasting!
That is a very bold request, a very daring request! Do we dare ask God to search us? Do we dare invite God to invade our lives, our heart, our very being? Not that He doesn’t already know, but the truth is many times we want to ignore that reality! We put on a façade for others to see. We fool ourselves into believing everything is fine within because we compare ourselves to others. “Well, I’m not as bad as that person”, or “Look at what they are doing, I would never participate in such activities”. One of my favorite attitudes happens in church, when those who are in attendance dismiss their own need, but gladly point out the needs of others. It looks something like this: “Well, I sure am glad so-and-so is here at church, they sure do need to hear this message”. When you and I present these attitudes for others to observe, over time, we convince ourselves it is who we really are, and often times forget that God knows the truth about us!
Instead, let us practice what Oswald Chambers challenges us to do, and what King David dared to pray in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” It is bold, and it is daring, but it is greatly needed. With self-evaluation, comes self-realization. When you dare to ask God to examine your heart, be prepared for conviction and need for repentance. I have often said, when you pray a daring prayer, be ready for an answer! You may not like what God reveals, you may not like the conviction that comes, but when you confess, and repent of what is revealed, you will find a Heavenly Father, ready to forgive and eager to lead you in the way everlasting!
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