April 26, 2023 - Psalms 26:2

“Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” Psalms 26:2 NLT

Lord, make this verse truly a cry of our hearts. As scary as it might be to ask the God who sees and knows all to put us on trial, this is what we ask. We ask that you examine us. Look deep and see our motives. But, Lord, don’t stop there. The things you find that are not pleasing to you, uproot them. Come be the great surgeon that you are and operate on our hearts and minds. Change us to be more like you. Open our eyes to the negative motives in us that we don’t even realize are there. In the places that we try to excuse our behavior, cross examine us, and let our excuses fall short in even our own eyes. Give us a hatred for excusing any thoughts or behaviors that do not bring you glory. Convict us when we tolerate things in our lives that we shouldn’t.

Transform us so our motives reflect yours. Lord, we long to be more like you. We want to be a mirror without blemishes that can reflect you properly into the world around us. Purify the blemishes out of us. Help us not to compare ourselves to the world around us and think we are doing well. Even a gray garment will look white when compared to something dark. Lord, we want to work towards becoming whiter than snow. Forgive us for falling under the stronghold of being good enough. We want to raise the standard in our lives. We want all of your presence that we can handle, and we don’t want to allow anything in our lives that would hold you back. So please come and test us. Purify us and make us holy. Lord, let every area of our lives be lived to bring you glory and honor.

In Jesus name, amen.