Challenge139 — Day 52

FILAS Women Online — Devotional for a deeper, more intimate walk with the God who knows you completely.

Today’s Scripture — Psalm 139:23 KJV

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23, KJV

Devotional Reflection — What Do I Want God to Find?

Sis, we’ve spent a lot of time with Psalm 139:23, but today I want us to look at David’s prayer from a slightly different perspective. David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Usually when we read this verse, we immediately begin thinking about the things we don’t want God to find—the anger, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, pride, fear, or whatever else may be hiding beneath the surface. But today, let’s turn the question around: When God searches my heart, what do I want Him to find?

I want God to find a heart that loves Him. I want Him to find compassion for other people. I want Him to find forgiveness where bitterness once lived, peace where anxiety once occupied too much space, and faith in places where fear used to control me. I want Him to find a heart that is becoming softer, wiser, more patient, and more willing to obey Him. Not a perfect heart—but a heart that is growing. A heart that is becoming. We just completed an evaluation on Day 50 – a moment to look back to see how far we have come. This is what we want God to see within our hearts. That we hear Him and that we are determined to continue with Him.

The truth is, our hearts hold so much. We carry memories, disappointments, desires, dreams, fears, expectations, and things we haven’t told anybody. Sometimes we don’t even realize what has taken up residence there until something happens that brings it to the surface. A conversation reveals the anger. Someone else’s blessing exposes the jealousy. A disappointment reveals where we’ve placed our trust. A quiet moment exposes the loneliness we’ve been covering with busy-ness. That’s why David’s prayer is so powerful. He’s giving God permission to go beneath what everybody else can see and examine what is actually happening inside.

But Sis, God searching your heart doesn’t have to be something you fear. Remember everything Psalm 139 has already taught us about the One doing the searching. This is the God who knows you, surrounds you, stays with you in darkness, formed you, calls you wonderfully made, and thinks precious thoughts toward you. The God searching your heart is the same God who loves you completely. He’s not searching for something He can use against you. He already knows what’s there. He’s inviting you to see it with Him so that your heart can become more like His.

So perhaps today’s prayer isn’t only, “Lord, show me what shouldn’t be here.” Maybe it is also, “Lord, help me make room for what should be here.” If bitterness has occupied too much space, grow forgiveness. If fear has been sitting there too long, grow faith. If comparison has moved in, grow gratitude. If hurt has hardened an area of your heart, bring healing. If you’ve become impatient, grow grace.

We’re 52 days into Challenge139, and God has already shown us a lot about ourselves. Today, we’re not asking Him for a perfect heart. We’re asking Him for a heart that is becoming a place where His character can be seen.

Sis, if God searched your heart today, what would you want Him to find?

Journal Prompt — Lord, I Want You to Find…

Today, draw a large heart on your journal page. Inside the heart, write the qualities you want God to find when He searches you.

Maybe your words are:

Love. Faith. Peace. Compassion. Forgiveness. Patience. Gratitude. Humility. Joy. Obedience. Grace.

Don’t write what you think should be there. Make this personal.

Then underneath your heart write:

“Lord, when You search my heart, I want You to find __________.”

Now ask yourself one more question:

What is currently taking up space in my heart that may be preventing this from growing?

Be honest. That’s where today’s conversation with God begins.

Today’s Challenge — Heart Check

Challenge139 — Day 52: Make Room

Choose one quality you want God to find growing in your heart.

Then intentionally practice it today.

If you wrote kindness, do something kind.

If you wrote forgiveness, take one step toward releasing an offense or someone that has offended you.

If you wrote gratitude, stop and thank God throughout your day.

If you wrote patience, pay attention to how you respond when you’re inconvenienced.

If you wrote love, intentionally show it.

If you wrote faith, surrender something you’ve been trying to control.

Don’t just ask God to put it in your heart.

Give Him an opportunity to grow it through the way you live today.

Today’s Prayer

Father, search me and know my heart. You already know everything that is there, but today I want You to help me see it too. Show me what has taken up space that no longer belongs there, but also show me what You are growing within me. I want You to find love, faith, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, humility, peace, and a genuine desire to follow You. Where my heart has become hard, soften it. Where it has been wounded, heal it. Where fear has settled in, grow my faith. Where bitterness has taken root, teach me to forgive. Lord, I don’t need a heart that looks perfect to people; I want a heart that is pleasing to You. Search me, know me, and keep changing me from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sis, Remember This…

“Search me, O God, and know my heart.”

Sis, don’t only ask God to show you what needs to come out.

Ask Him what needs to grow within.

When God searches your heart, what do you want Him to find?