January 5

Search Me
 
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” 
Psalm 139:23-24 
 
Fasting has a way of revealing things about ourselves that we have ignored.  As an avid sports fan, several years ago I undertook a three day “sports fast.”  For three days, I would not watch any sports, I would not watch any sports highlights, I would not listen to sports talk radio, and I would not even talk about sports.  At the end of three days, I made an uncomfortable discovery:  I did not have much to talk about when I was not talking about sports.  My priorities were extremely misaligned.  I had not intended for things to get as out of hand as they had, but little by little my focus had shifted until I was unaware of how far off the mark I was.  My brief fast opened my eyes to my condition and allowed me to repent.  As we fast, our eyes become open to where our priorities have become misaligned.  We are able to see the effects of those small drifts and shifts in focus that we have all but ignored.  When our eyes are opened, when we are able to see what the Lord sees as He searches our hearts, we can then turn and be led in the ways that please Him.  During our season of fasting, the cry from our hearts must continually be that of David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”