What If God Tried You?

³ You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
    You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
    I am determined not to sin in what I say.
⁴ I have followed your commands,
    which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
⁵ My steps have stayed on your path;
    I have not wavered from following you.

⁶ I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
    Bend down and listen as I pray.
⁷ Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
    By your mighty power you rescue
    those who seek refuge from their enemies.

-Psalm 17:3-7 (NLT)

In studying these verses last night, in prep for this post, I couldn't help but be drawn in by the words of David. We see here an intimate prayer, a prayer from David to his Lord. Let's dig in.

Verse 3 says, "You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say." We see several things in this one verse. David reveals that God has tested his thoughts and examined his heart. If God were to do that with you, what would He find? Could you exclaim, as David did, that He found nothing wrong? You see, David was like you and me. David had times where he fell into sin. But the one thing to remember is this: David knew where to find forgiveness for that sin. When he sinned, he would seek God, and God would comfort him. God tested David's thoughts and his heart, He scrutinized him, and found nothing wrong. God knew David inside and out. In fact, we read this about David in Acts 13:22, "²² But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’" Look at those words. David was a man after the heart of God, and God knew that David would do everything that God wants him to do. Can the same be said of you? If God were writing about you, could He include this verse in you? Could God say that you are a person after His own heart? Could God say that you will do everything He wants you to do? If God were to test your thoughts, and examine your heart, and scrutinize you, would He find nothing wrong? 

Finally, the end of verse 3 says, "I am determined not to sin in what I say." This, I believe, is the easiest way we fall into sin, through our speech. How many times do we carelessly utter something without thinking, or we say something under our breath? Sure, we've all done that. David is determined to make sure he doesn't sin by his speech. Are you careful with your speech? 

We'll continue in study of the Psalm tomorrow, but for now, think about  what God would find if He scrutinized your life. Would He find nothing wrong? Or would he find evil and sin in your life? Think About It.

Lord Jesus, help me to be the person you want me to be. I pray that you control my speech so that I will not sin against you. Test me, Father, and reveal areas where I must change, so that I can be the person you want me to be. Amen.