Psalm 139:23-24 says, “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

 

One of the most powerful prayers that has ever been written and declared in scripture would have to be this prayer recorded in Psalm 139 by David. David was a man after God’s own heart, and he desired to please Him in everything. While many prayers recorded in the Book of Psalms is focused on bringing destruction to his enemies and walking in victory, this prayer was much different. His words were not focused on condemning others or finding fault in them. Instead, he chose to take inventory of himself to make sure he was standing where he needed to be with God. His prayer was, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” He did not want others to view his life and reveal to him every mistake that he had ever made. His goal was not for those surrounding him to point at what they would do different from him if they were in positions of leadership. No, not David. His prayer was that God would search and know his heart, and if there was anything wicked in his life for God to reveal it to him so that he could ask for forgiveness, repent of it, and go on his way! He wanted to obtain everlasting life and abide in the perpetual mercy and favor of God, but in order to do that, change had to begin within him. It was not a time to look at others, but solely himself to see what he needed to do in order to reflect the image of God to those who needed to see His love and power!

 

This should be our prayer quite often. Rather than point at church leadership or governmental authority concerning everything that they should change, we should take inventory of ourselves because revival begins simply with us. Revival will be aborted or avoided if people in their own self-righteousness always look down their nose upon everyone else, regardless of their position in the kingdom of God! It is by living a life of repentance that the flames of revival can be fanned and continue to burn. Before there is a shift in the US, there must first be a shift in us! If we want a shift we must ask God to search our hearts to make sure that our hearts are right before Him. It is more than just repenting of things we have done wrong, but also repenting of our attitudes and behaviors that display selfishness and breaks the commandment of “loving our neighbor as ourselves” (Matthew 22:39). If we open the door of our hearts to God, He will come in and clean house! It is time to give God some room!