Start the year with deeper intimacy with God by learning how to let your heart be known by God. Four steps to go deep with God this new year.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalms 139:23-24

The majority of Psalm 139 is about how intimately God knows you. He knows the number of hairs on your head. The Creator of the universe knows where you stand up and when you sit down. His hand goes before you and He follows behind you. He knows when you’re awake and He knows when you try to hide from Him. His thoughts for you outnumber the grains of sand.

I don’t know if you’ve ever held a handful of sand and considered how many grains you held, but the Lord’s thoughts for you are even more numerous than that!  This psalm doesn’t portray a stalker or “I’m-watching-to-punish-you-for-being-bad” kind of note to you. It is a love letter from an attentive lover who is watching over you and considering you in every way.

Let’s look again at the last two verses of Psalm 139:

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  Psalm 139: 23-24 (ESV)

A friend of mine would read these verses and interpret them as if she’s failed to live up to holiness and righteousness.  This could not be further from the truth!

These words are a normal response for anyone who has just realized how deeply loved they are. Have you not asked your spouse how you can improve yourself in order to improve your marriage? Have you ever had conversations with your best friend about annoying or hurtful behavior that you could change? These are the things we do when we realize someone loves us so much. We don’t want to offend them or cause them grief.

At the end of this psalm we ask the Lord to “know us more.” The psalmist writes—pleads—for the Lord to reveal to him the things in his own heart that are offensive. It is an invitation to be known. It’s an invitation for the Holy Spirit to point out the things which need to be changed.  It is a surrender to the love of God, from a Holy God who wants to see you different than you are—not because you are bad, not because you are not enough—but because you (as are we all) are broken and the Lord can heal us.

1. Meditate on verses 1-22 of Psalm 139. Marvel in the specific, persistent and continual love God has for you.
2. Pray and ask the lord, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts.”
3. Listen as He answers your prayer, and don’t be discouraged by His answers. It is a continuation of His love and devotion to you.
4. Follow the instruction of the Lord as He guides you and leads you into victory over offending thoughts and ways.

At the start of this year, meditate on the love, intimacy, and devotion expressed in Psalm 139:1-22. Prayerfully consider and ask the Lord to show you what needs to change. However, do not take this on in your own strength. The Lord will show you…let Him lead you in the way everlasting.