Show Me My Heart

There are some prayers the Lord delights to answer. Sometimes we may not be delighted to pray them. But if we do, we almost assuredly will be audience to the zealous presence of the Holy Spirit.

“Show me my heart” is one of those prayers.

Recently I found myself praying this very prayer. It was born of an eagerness not my own, fueled by the Spirit of Christ residing within. I didn’t know what would be revealed, but He did. And in the revealing I discovered some things I did not know about my heart.

Some of it wasn’t pretty and some of it was difficult to digest, especially when held in the light of the Word of truth. There was no wiggle room, but there was also no shame, for an earnest heart set on seeking God’s righteousness will never be put to shame. (Romans 5:5, 10:11)

Instead, the revelation of what was in my most interior place was like cups of cold water to my thirsty heart. Now I understood! Now many things made sense. Now I knew where I had missed the mark. And best of all, I knew the One who would hear me, forgive me, redeem me, and set me in a spacious place.

One of the gems written on my heart was that whereas I had lived a lifetime of unforgiveness in many areas, now my heart, through the preparation and conviction of the Holy Spirit, received enabling grace to choose a lifestyle of repentance.

Being shown your heart is one thing. Choosing an attitude of responsiveness to the Holy Spirit is quite another. In that moment is where the battle is won or lost.

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David was one in scripture who gave permission to the Lord to do a thorough searching of his heart…

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 NASB)

Many other translations read, “…and see if there be any wicked way in me…,” a rendering with which most of us are more familiar. If we’re honest, how many of us have either cringed or sailed on by the word ‘wicked’ as inapplicable to us when we have read or quoted that scripture? It assaults our moral sense of who we are and we take offense.

Blessed is the one who does not take offense at the Lord. (Matthew 11:6, Luke 7:23) 

Are we willing to pray with David such examination of our heart? “Show me my heart” is the prayer of one who desires to be discovered to himself and known by the Most High.

Such a prayer takes courage for it says, in essence, to any degree there is a corrupt inclination of my heart, let me see it so it may be rooted out; where I have fashioned idols that hold residence in my heart, show me that I may confess my sin and be healed. (James 5:16)

The body of Christ needs a collective courageous heart. But it is the openness and responsiveness of the individual believer that determines the strength and health of that collective heart. We are not our own; we have been bought with a price, born again into the family of God. We do not journey for ourselves alone.

An independent spirit is not a virtue. Whether we like it or not, what we choose affects not only those closest to us, but the entire body of Christ – even if we have not the slightest awareness.

“Show me my heart.” It is a receptive prayer, poised to acknowledge that which the Spirit of God reveals. A prayer that brings with it opportunity to make the choice for self or for God. How carefully we must choose. When we choose for God, forgiveness, confession, and repentance swing wide the door to freedom of the heart. Strength and health flow in upon the river of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

There is no greater privilege and assurance than receiving and recording on our heart the fullness of His love, knowing that one day we will stand before Him with our heart revealed.

Jesus Christ showed us His heart on the cross. And with no pretense, it remains wide open to us all.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you (and me) with power through his Spirit in your (my) inner being, so that Christ may dwell {abide, settle down, make His permanent home} in your (my) hearts through faith. And I pray that you (we), being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you (we) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV; parentheses and emphasis mine)

“Show me my heart” – a gift of strengthening power, every time it is prayed.

Gracefully Free