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Launch a search party

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Every day at 9:23a, I get a notification on my devices to pray Psalm 139:23-24, and that means every single day I ask the Holy Spirit to launch a search party in my soul.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms‬ ‭139:23-24‬ ‭NIV, emphasis mine)

Search me.
Know me.
Test me.
Lead me.

We live in a culture that is all about testing others and what their motives might be. We want to point out their offenses, and yet my daily prayer is that the Holy Spirit would turn the spotlight on my motives.

My thoughts.
My desires.
My offense.
My way.

What I’ve learned from months of doing this simple act of daily surrender is that I look at others with a lot more compassion because the Holy Spirit reminds me every day at 9:23a that I am known by Him, approved by Him, led by Him and loved by Him.

Allowing the Spirit to search us doesn’t lead us to a “Woe is me” mentality, but rather a “Whoa! He loves me!” mentality. He sees us — the real us — and loves us, and that is a truth worth searching for and finding.

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July 13, 2021by Paul Jenkins
Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.