Hello my dear friends! I hope that your Christmas Day celebration gave you ample opportunity to enjoy rich times of fellowship with those you love the most as well as time to reflect upon the One who loves you most.
Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a great way to summarize the year as well as look to next year as a spiritual goal: on a frequent basis, to ask the Lord to "examine me, try me; test my mind and my heart."
May each one of us learn in a fresh way how to be honest with God.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #51
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. Psalm 26:2
Core Value: Prayer
“Are you honest with God?” This is the question that cuts through any kind of “religious” spirit and goes to the heart of what is true or what is just a spiritual mirage. The prayer of the Psalmist was one of honesty and a pure desire to become “real” with God. Note the clear directions the Psalmist gave to the Lord: “Examine me . . . try me . . . test my mind . . . and my heart.”
No holding back here in an attempt to be seen as something he was not. In essence, the Psalmist was asking God for restoration, a fresh and healthy relationship with his God. It is tempting to ignore what we need from God: to give Him permission to inspect our mind and heart. Over time, we may drift and adapt and live life without God’s supernatural redemptive power.
In the book, “The Rest of God” by Mark Buchanan, he offers a unique perspective on how challenging it is to open one’s life to God’s review.
“A curious thing about restoration is that it doesn’t need doing. Strictly speaking, life carries on without it. Restoration is an invasion of sorts. It’s fixing something that’s broken, but broken so long it’s almost mended . . . Restoration meddles with what [we’ve] learned to handle, removes what [we’ve] learned to live with, bestows what [we’ve] learned to live without. Replacements have been found already, thank you all the same.” Pg. 150
May we never become satisfied with the “status quo.” May the Lord give us the grace we need to prayerfully ask Him to inspect us, from the inside out.
Principle #51 & Personal Application: The Quality disciple of Jesus Christ invites an honest and transparent assessment of what one thinks and feels inside.
It is by prayer that the disciple of Jesus Christ:
• Can become “real” with God. “Examine me, O Lord.” This coming year I can be honest to God.
• Can welcome an honest assessment from the Lord. “Try me.” This coming year I can be willing to take the risk that God knows what is best for me.
• Can trust the Lord’s probing of what is at one’s inner core. “Test my mind and my heart.” This coming year I can peel away the onion of my life and see what is most important to me.
• Can embrace the One who came into the world as a baby but is now our risen Savior. “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” This coming year I can renew my commitment to live my life for Him.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Do I find it easy or challenging to be real with God? Why?
What kinds of things do I conceal in my mind and heart that are not in alignment with God’s Word?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I give You permission to check me out—on the inside. Please examine me, O Lord. Please try me and test my mind and heart…and then, Lord, please overwhelm me with Your grace as You form my mind into the mind of Christ; as You create in me a clean heart; as You once again, renew my focus to live for You.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a great way to summarize the year as well as look to next year as a spiritual goal: on a frequent basis, to ask the Lord to "examine me, try me; test my mind and my heart."
May each one of us learn in a fresh way how to be honest with God.
Learning with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #51
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. Psalm 26:2
Core Value: Prayer
“Are you honest with God?” This is the question that cuts through any kind of “religious” spirit and goes to the heart of what is true or what is just a spiritual mirage. The prayer of the Psalmist was one of honesty and a pure desire to become “real” with God. Note the clear directions the Psalmist gave to the Lord: “Examine me . . . try me . . . test my mind . . . and my heart.”
No holding back here in an attempt to be seen as something he was not. In essence, the Psalmist was asking God for restoration, a fresh and healthy relationship with his God. It is tempting to ignore what we need from God: to give Him permission to inspect our mind and heart. Over time, we may drift and adapt and live life without God’s supernatural redemptive power.
In the book, “The Rest of God” by Mark Buchanan, he offers a unique perspective on how challenging it is to open one’s life to God’s review.
“A curious thing about restoration is that it doesn’t need doing. Strictly speaking, life carries on without it. Restoration is an invasion of sorts. It’s fixing something that’s broken, but broken so long it’s almost mended . . . Restoration meddles with what [we’ve] learned to handle, removes what [we’ve] learned to live with, bestows what [we’ve] learned to live without. Replacements have been found already, thank you all the same.” Pg. 150
May we never become satisfied with the “status quo.” May the Lord give us the grace we need to prayerfully ask Him to inspect us, from the inside out.
Principle #51 & Personal Application: The Quality disciple of Jesus Christ invites an honest and transparent assessment of what one thinks and feels inside.
It is by prayer that the disciple of Jesus Christ:
• Can become “real” with God. “Examine me, O Lord.” This coming year I can be honest to God.
• Can welcome an honest assessment from the Lord. “Try me.” This coming year I can be willing to take the risk that God knows what is best for me.
• Can trust the Lord’s probing of what is at one’s inner core. “Test my mind and my heart.” This coming year I can peel away the onion of my life and see what is most important to me.
• Can embrace the One who came into the world as a baby but is now our risen Savior. “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” This coming year I can renew my commitment to live my life for Him.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Do I find it easy or challenging to be real with God? Why?
What kinds of things do I conceal in my mind and heart that are not in alignment with God’s Word?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I give You permission to check me out—on the inside. Please examine me, O Lord. Please try me and test my mind and heart…and then, Lord, please overwhelm me with Your grace as You form my mind into the mind of Christ; as You create in me a clean heart; as You once again, renew my focus to live for You.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
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