REMOVING THE DEAD, DYING, AND DECAYING AREAS

There are times when a particular Bible verse keeps popping up during the week, which happened to me this week. I will sometimes catch it when this happens, and other times, I feel like the Lord has to smack me upside the head. This week, it was time for a “smack” because this same verse appeared four times on different platforms.

I think that I ignored His prompting rather than not catching it. This particular verse is daunting and scary, and I tried to avoid the obvious message that the Lord was sending me. The funny thing about the Lord is that He doesn’t give up on us and will remind us that HIS will be done.

Psalm 139:23-24

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

What is it about these verses that give me anxiety? Is it that I invite the Lord to search me and know what is in my heart? Most of us have secrets, tiny areas of our lives that no one knows about. It could be wishes or desires that we’ve never told another person about, or maybe it is our true feelings about a person or situation. There is a reason we keep some thoughts or actions secret, which is usually because someone might think less of us.

God already knows everything, so keeping a thought or action from Him is futile. He knows our wants and desires, He knows our true feelings, and nothing is hidden from Him. So, asking Him to search me and know my heart is unnecessary for Him; it is necessary for ME. It is humbling myself and opening myself up for heart surgery. It asks the Lord to lay bare my offenses and remove them from me.

I don’t know if you’ve known someone who has gone through heart bypass surgery; it is a surgery that is necessary but not fun to go through. The doctor stops your heart while they bypass arteries that are clogged. If the surgery is successful, blood will start to flow again to your heart. The healing part can now begin, and it can be a long and painful process. But, over time, you start to feel better; in fact, you might even notice that you feel better than you ever did before.

John 15:2

² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Every gardener will tell you that trees and flowers have to be pruned for them to shine. Branches that grow in the wrong direction need to be cut off so that the tree will grow strong and sturdy. Grapevines need to be pruned so that the remaining vines will produce more sweet and juicy grapes.

Our heart also needs this pruning. Cutting out the dead, dying, and dark areas will leave more room to be filled with life and light.

Why did I resist these verses? Because I was afraid that the Lord would examine my heart and be disappointed. Instead, I am looking forward to the rotten and decaying parts being removed so that more light will shine in me and through me. Thank you, Lord, for being persistent and a little bit pushy!

Glory To God!

Have A Great Day!