“Show me if I am doing anything that offends or hurts your heart.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers, Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

This is another part of the dangerous prayer that David prayed.

Craig says, “David was called ‘a man after God’s own heart’ (see 1 Sam. 13:14 and Acts 13:22). He was devoted to God’s will and worshiped passionately, gave extravagantly, and led courageously. Yet he still made mistakes—big ones. Like you and like me, he was tempted to sin and didn’t always make the right choice. Even after he knew the goodness of God and had walked with him for most of his life, David still blew it. And that’s why he prayed this dangerous portion of the prayer: ‘Search me, God . . . know my anxious thoughts. . . . See if there is any offensive way in me’ (Ps. 139:23–24).

“Show me if I am doing anything that offends or hurts your heart.”

Craig goes on, “Hearing God’s response to this portion of the prayer can be challenging. It’s not easy because most of us are masters at rationalizing our wrong actions. If you’re like me, you’re good at accusing others and equally good at excusing yourself. I can point out your faults but have a perfectly good explanation as to why I do anything that you might consider inappropriate. I’m good at doing what Jesus warned against in Matthew 7. I can point out the speck of sawdust in your eye all the while ignoring the log in my own eye.

“How do you hear from God about any offensive way in you?”

He says, “First, consider what others have told you about you. Is there an area of your life, your habits, your relationships, or your actions that others have suggested needs to change? Is there some area of your life that is challenged by others? Have loved ones expressed concern for you, or asked you to consider getting help?

He then says, “When I was in seminary and took a counseling class, my professor taught us a principle I’ll never forget. She suggested that if more than two people that you love and trust suggest you have a problem, you should recognize that you have a problem and deal with it immediately.

“Her wisdom stuck with me through the years. As you ask God to show you if you have any offensive ways, start with what others have mentioned to you. Is there something about your life that loved ones suggest is unhealthy or unwise?”

That is a great place to start, isn’t it?

Yes, yes!

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