Open To Being Known

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. Proverbs 20:27

There is a lot of ourselves that we keep locked away from others. Hidden thoughts and desires, whether recent or past, that we don’t want known. It could be from embarrassment or from shame – a past indiscretion that we don’t want to think about let alone talk about. We filter our feelings and behaviour to show only what we perceive to be acceptable or necessary.

Of course, we cannot hide any of these things from God. He has an all-access pass to every thought, word, action and desire. He can illuminate every dark corner and search them out. Rather than trying to hide our indiscretions, He wants us to acknowledge them and hand them over to His forgiveness.

As the Psalmist said, ‘You have searched me and known me’. The Lord knows when we sit, when we rise, when we lie down; He discerns our very thoughts, so even before a word leaves our lips, He knows it. Nothing is hidden from God, for He is acquainted with all our ways. This may feel a bit scary but it is actually a great relief because with the Lord we don’t have to pretend, we just have to be honest. He died for every sin and that includes everything about which we feel embarrassed or ashamed. We don’t have to tell the world about it but we do have to confess it before God, for if we want innermost peace, we must surrender our innermost parts.

Search me thoroughly, O Lord my God. You know my heart completely and every anxious thought that I have. Test me, Lord, and see if there is anything wicked or hurtful within me, and then lead me in your eternal way. Amen.