Skip to main content

Search Me!

             Search me, 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)

I’ve said before that this passage used to be a big problem for me because I was so sure that God would be disappointed in what He found. At the same time, when I worked at Sears, I discovered that I’m visually oriented, and often felt the need for an assistant manager to come to look at what I’d done, to make sure it was right and to make sure I wouldn’t get in trouble. I remember taking things out to show my father (even when I was over 50!) so that someone in the universe could acknowledge it. More often than not, I got an “Oh? Yep.” Sometimes a “That’s nice,” but it was without any real interest. That was the way Dad was. Now, I find myself posting stupid pictures of baskets that I’ve dry-brush painted and announcing the number of projects I’ve completed.

Sadly, if you hide what you’re doing, it’s rather hard for anyone to approve, and if you don’t hide what you’re doing, you risk being accused of narcissism. But God knows, so we shouldn’t worry about taking our good and bad to Him -but we do, because we believe the lie. Recently a writer friend was sharing about turning 30 and feeling like a failure. I suggested to her that we both needed to start saying “Liar, Liar, pants on fire!” regularly because once we identify the lie, it’s easier to reject – and once we put words to the truth, it’s likely to stop hurting as much.

And in the same way, if we practice saying the passage above, it becomes less of a threat – and almost a desperate plea.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more