Examine Your Heart

“O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” —Psalm 59:17 (ESV)

A primary practice of coming before the Lord in prayer is reaffirming our place before God. With his word before us, we can sit in his presence and ask ourselves where we are abiding. Are we living in fear or sin? Does our heart long for God, or are we longing for what our flesh desires? Maybe we are somewhat trusting in the Lord, but if we were honest, the connection is distant. Perhaps God’s words are faintly present in your heart and mind.

Wherever we are in our spiritual journey, the discipline of setting ourselves before God can only lead to greater freedom and breakthroughs. Sometimes, it is a slight chipping away at the mindsets and patterns of sin that hold us. Other times, it is a radical revelation that changes us profoundly. I’ve found that when I’m willing to be available for the incremental surrender, I’m actually positioning myself to encounter God.

On the contrary, when I step outside of God’s covering, I position myself for temptation, deception, and conflict. David’s capacity to declare God as his fortress was the essential foundation for his relationship with God. That abiding devotion is what kept David walking with God through the growth, mistakes, and terrible sins.

Verses like Psalm 59:17 are a mirror for our hearts. Is God your strength? Are praises flowing to the God who shows you steadfast love? Or do you have to do some rearranging of your heart? How drastically do you need to reorient yourself to be in agreement with this verse? It’s worth pondering.

Maybe today is an invitation to examine your heart and ask God to show you how to live closer to his heart. Take the time to meditate on this devotional thought, even for a three-minute timer, and ask God to give you an understanding of how to live under the protection of his fortress-presence.

He is the God who shows steadfast love and invites you to find refuge in him alone.