God By Your Bed

God By Your Bed

"Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind ... See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 26:2; 139:24)

When you read a verse like this and turn it into the prayer of your heart, do you expect that God will take you at your word? Do you believe that God is this intimately acquainted with YOU and EVERYTHING you think, say or do?

Here's a good reminder from the pen of the famed preacher, John Wesley. It is powerful:

If you believe that God is by your bed as well as by your work place and that He observes all your actions, then take care not to do the least thing, not to speak the least word, not to indulge the least thought, that you think would offend Him.

Suppose an angel were now standing right next to you. Wouldn't you take care to abstain from every word or action that you knew would offend him? Or suppose that a very godly man were to be watching you. Wouldn't you be extremely cautious how you conducted yourself, both in word and action?

How much more cautious ought you to be when you know that not a godly man, not an angel of God, but GOD HIMSELF, the Holy One "who inhabits eternity," is every moment inspecting your heart, your tongue, your hands! He Himself will surely bring you into judgment for all you think and speak and act.

Since there is not a word on your tongue nor a syllable you speak but HE "knows it COMPLETELY," how careful you should be in setting a guard over your mouth and in keeping watch over the door of your lips! (Psalm 141:3) You should be cautious in all your conversations, for you have forwarned by your judge that "by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37)

If God always sees our hearts as well as our hands; if He understands our thoughts long before they are clothed with words -- then how earnestly we should echo the petition: "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind; ... see if there is ANY offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 26:2; 139:24) -- from HOW GREAT THOU ART -- Steve Halliday and William Travis (Multnomah)

Good reminder, brothers. He is the God who knows it all! That should impact the way we live our lives today! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 21; Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21

DIG THIS QUOTE: We ought to so live our lives that we would not be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip! -- Chuck Swindoll

DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Joshua 1:8; Level 2 -- Psalm 15