Letting God Name What's Going On Inside - Your Nightly Prayer - July 22nd

Britt Mooney

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Letting God Name What’s Going On Inside
Your Nightly Prayer

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD." - Lamentations 3:40

SOMETHING TO PONDER

There’s an old quote from Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Even worse, it can be dangerous.

We don’t test our ways for several reasons. Could be as simple as laziness, but often it comes down to some sort of pride. We arrogantly believe we couldn’t be wrong, or we know we are and don’t want to feel challenged on an issue. Such a discipline of self-examination proves uncomfortable on several levels. We don’t like finding deficits in our character or spiritual life.

And yet, this is the only way we grow, going through temporary suffering and adversity to reach greater joy and peace. On the negative side, rejecting such challenges allows lies and weakness to destroy us. The prophet Jeremiah writes during such consequences in Lamentations 3:40. Judah had dismissed the prophetic calls to repentance away from idols and sin. Ultimately, God allowed them to fall to chaos and oppression as a consequence.

Yet Jeremiah continues to call God’s people to self-examination and to repentance, returning to the Lord for their good. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul writes a similar instruction: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

How do we test ourselves? By God’s truth. Truth will correct and save, heal and change us. We must come to God in humility, rejecting pride, and be willing to be transformed by his presence and voice. God resists the proud (I don’t need to change) and gives grace (help, empowerment) to the humble (James 4:6). God reveals what is real, not limited by our own perspective, and what change is for our good and his glory.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
Search my heart and reveal any pride, sin, or lies that keep me from you and the good you have for me. Give me the humility to receive your correction and the courage to obey the truth that sets me free. Help me test my ways and examine my life in the light of your Word and turn from anything that dishonors you. Empower me with your grace to change, grow, and follow you more faithfully. Transform me through your presence for my good and your glory.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

What are some ways God’s truth has changed you in the past?
How has God changed your mind and heart for your good?
What are some ways you can seek to humble yourself and let God point out ways for you to change beliefs and ideas to his truth?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Elijah Hiett

Britt Mooney Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.

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