“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23-24
The prayer that David offered for a preparation of heart in order to do acceptable service for God, should be the prayer of every believer today. He said: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. For Thou desirest not sacrifice: else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise…. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering, and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.” (1)
“Create in me a clean heart.” This is beginning right, at the very foundation of Christian character; for out of the heart are the issues of life. If all… would see to it that their hearts are right with God, we should see much larger results from the labor put forth. (2)
Christ gave to [his] disciples the education they needed for their work of ministry…Taking them directly from their fishing boats, the Master united them with Him in His work…
A similar work will be done for us in giving the last message to the world. Angels of God will go with us, Christ will be our chief Teacher, and right ways will be opened before us. Never are we to lose sight of our commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” In order to follow this divine instruction, there needs to be thorough consecration to God. The heart of the worker must seek wisdom from God; he must make God his dependence, and improve every advantage given him. (1)
Charge for the Day: Spend additional time in prayer today asking God to show you anything that may be separating you from Him. Resolve to remove any obstructions so you can be used as a mighty vessel for the Lord in fulfilling the Great Commission.
1. Australian Union Conference Record, October 14, 1907
2. Gospel Workers, p. 451