Transparency Part I
This is such a treasured passage of scripture. The Psalmist reveals a key to a victorious life in this maturely crafted prayer. He makes himself vulnerable to the light of God’s correction. The peak of intimacy is transparency. Allowing every area of your life to be illuminated in the presence of God is crucial to the progressive transformation of who God has called you to be. Intimacy is vanity without transparency. God desires transparency more than anything in a relationship, and for that matter don’t we all? Whatever you choose to hide, will rob you of the true joy of intimacy. Hiding issues is like planting poisonous seeds. The longer you hide them the greater root they take in your life. An unresolved inner struggle can only go on so long before it becomes an outward massacre. Complete freedom is only found in unabridged exposure before God.
Focus on the order of thought in the scripture above. The first part of the prayer asks God to search him. This is imperative for genuine breakthrough, God does not back you into a corner and force your hand. He patiently waits for you to ask Him for direction in your character and decision-making.
The second part of the prayer was for God to know his heart. This is similar but intricately separate. Right after he asks God to search him, he cuts right to the core of the issue and asks God to know his heart. He isn’t just submitting himself to be interrogated, he is asking for a complete diagnosis of who he is at that present moment. He asks this because he knows deep down God has called him to live to a greater standard, and he isn’t afraid or ashamed to confront the reality of his current shortcomings.
Thirdly he asks God to try him. Now this is intense, but it shows the admirable state of his heart. He doesn’t want to leave a single stone uncovered. He not only asks God to search and know his heart, he asks God to try him after the search to make sure he didn’t just straighten up on a guilty impulse. He wants to be thoroughly post examined because he authentically wants the state of his heart to be pleasing to God. The only way to see if something works, is by testing or trying it. The Psalmist wanted his heart tested and approved for the work of the Kingdom of God.
*Stay Tuned for Part II of this Blog next week, where we’ll focus on the final on the next stage of the prayer.
