Day-1 SEARCH ME

Self-inventory
Psalm 32

Prayer Devotional:

God, you speak to your last-day church and point out their sin. You say they do not realize they are, “Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17). I am part of that church. Today I ask that You would remove the blindness from my eyes. Help me see myself through the eyes of truth.

Help me to move past my human defensiveness. Break the denial and self-deception that allow me to say, “I am rich, I have acquired wealth, and I am in need of nothing.” (Revelation 3:17). I cloak my sinfulness with lies saying. “I can stop anytime. It’s not really that bad. At least my sins are not as bad as What-His-Name’s.” I tell myself I can handle this sin and stay in connection with You. Lord, by the light of your righteousness, expose my sin.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24). Holy Spirit, convict me as you did David of old. Break my heart to see the sinfulness of all sin, but especially my sin.

Inventory (according to John Wesley and the Holiness Club over 200 years ago):

·         Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am a better person than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

·         Am I honest in all my acts or words, or do I exaggerate?

·         Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

·         Can I be trusted?

·         Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?

·         Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

·         Did the Bible live in me today?

·         Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

·         Am I enjoying prayer?

·         When did I last speak to somebody else with the object of trying to win that person for Christ?

·         Am I making contacts with other people and using them for the Master’s Glory?

·         Do I pray about the money I spend?

·         Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

·         Do I disobey God in anything?

·         Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

·         Am I defeated in any part of my life? Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

·         How do I spend my spare time?

·         Am I proud?

·         Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the Publican?

·         Is there anybody I fear, dislike, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

·         Do I grumble or complain constantly?

·         Is Christ real to me?

Read Psalm 32:

Why might David have waited so long to confess his sin? (32:4)

Have I waited?

Why?

What was the effect of unconfessed sin? (32:3-4)

Did David believe he could wait indefinitely and still find God? (32:8)

Cherished sin eventually removes the desire for purity. What sin do I need to bring to God?

David admitted to “missing the mark,” not measuring up to God’s requirement (Sin). He admitted he was willfully rebellious against God’s law (Transgression). He searched the depths of his heart and acknowledged his morally distorted, corrupt, crooked, evil, bent nature (Iniquity). (33:5). Do I have more than a sinful act to confess?

Am I rebellious toward God?

At the core of my being, do I crave sin?

Did David receive forgiveness? (32:5)

What sins had David committed? (2 Samuel 11:2-4, 15-16)

Did David know better?

Are my sins worse?

Will I trust Jesus to make me right with God through His death? (Romans 4:5-6).

I am forgiven

What does God promise to do for me? (32:7, 8, 10).

Prayer:

Lord, thank you that I am forgiven. I accept your unfailing love like warm arms wrapping around me. You are my hide-out against the accusations of Satan and the overwhelming guilt of the past. Help me to see you and not myself. Thank you for your blessing. Help me walk in your way.