Know Me and My Anxious Heart - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 21
Know Me and My Anxious Heart
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
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. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
There is something so special about the Book of Psalms. They offer balm to a blistered heart or a chorus of celebration when joy overflows. No matter what you are encountering today, there is likely a psalm that speaks directly to your current state. Are you feeling burdened and afraid? You will find great comfort in the famous Psalm 23. Feeling overwhelmed, possibly even attacked by voices of accusation? Take a look at Psalm 27. What about when you clearly see the fingerprints of God offering miraculous provision? Psalm 100 will help you offer thanks.
What about when you long for connection and intimacy with the Lord? Allow David, a man after God’s own heart, to remind you that nowhere you can go where God is not with you through the words he penned in Psalm 139. David recalls how the Lord knows our thoughts and ways in this beautiful passage. There is no place where we can go from His Spirit or flee His presence.
Also included in this psalm is the often-referenced scripture, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Ps. 139:13-14, NIV). That is how intimately the Lord is acquainted with us. He literally knit each one of us together in our mothers’ wombs. Like an artist creating a masterpiece, He threads each fiber of your being into existence.
With this understanding, we can trust our anxious hearts to the Lord and be assured He is already aware of our struggle. Jesus reminded the disciples in Matt. 6:8 that “…your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him,” (NKJV). The Word also says, “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Ps. 139:16, NIV). God knows your yesteryears, discerns what will happen today, and sees what the future holds. He knows you – truly KNOWS you in a manner far beyond our human comprehension. You are His treasure. His precious child. God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to pay the penalty for your sin (John 3:16). You can trust Him with your deepest cares and darkest secrets.
Though He knows every facet of our beings, our Lord does not barge in and force His way into our hearts. Instead, He awaits our invitation. David understood this when he invited the Lord to search his will and ways.
“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.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Could we, like David, vulnerably and transparently open ourselves up to the Lord?
Even if you feel like you are hiding those wounds, worries, or shame from the Heavenly Father, the truth is you are hiding in plain sight. If there is nowhere we can wander from His presence, and He knows what we need before we even bring our cares to Him, how can we not entrust our anxious hearts and thoughts to the Lord? He already knows our concerns because he intimately KNOWS us.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What worries are bombarding your mind and stealing your peace today? Can you trust Him with your concerns? Why or why not?
One of the practices that has brought me immense freedom from anxiety has been “releasing” my cares to the Lord. I write down my worry over a particular situation, fear of an unknown outcome, or a wound I feel is still unhealed, and I “place it back on the vine.” The Bible says, He is the vine and we are the branches. If we abide in Him, He will abide in us (John 15:5-7).
Every morning, I review my list of concerns (or add new ones). As I share them with God, I declare, “Lord, I place this back on the vine. I trust you will do with it what you know is best. I trust in You, and I release it to You.”
What cares can you place back on the vine today?
Further Reading:
Psalm 139
John 15:1-8
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/kieferpix
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
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Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
