Search Me, O Lord—A Spiritual Evaluation of Growth and Conformity

Search Me, O Lord—A Spiritual Evaluation of Growth and Conformity

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Self-examination is not merely an act of introspection—it is an act of surrender. We stand before the Lord, asking Him to search our hearts, to test our faith, to refine our walk. This is not a fleeting exercise but a continual process of proving ourselves in the faith, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 exhorts: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves..."

The fruitfulness of our labour, our obedience to the Word, and our connection to God must be evaluated. Galatians 6:4 reminds us: "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." But let this evaluation not be grounded in external results—our works, our efforts—but rather in our growth and commitment to studying God’s Word.

Our focus should never be on striving to produce righteousness by human effort, for that leads only to dead works. Instead, as we yield ourselves in prayer and in the Word, our mind is renewed, and our spirit is conformed unto Christ. This is the point at which God begins His work in us, as it is written: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." —Philippians 2:13.

It is God’s labour in us, through His truth, that manifests naturally in the fruits of righteousness. We do not live the Christian life by sheer willpower—it must spring forth from a maturing in sound doctrine, where His love stirs us, and obedience flows—not from obligation but from transformation.

So, in assessing ourselves, let us not determine whether we must work harder, but rather, how much Christ is manifesting through us. True evaluation is not about external activity but about internal change—how deeply the Word is taking root, how much of Christ’s love is stirring us, how freely we are yielding to the truth because we are compelled by love and a heart conformed to Him. This is the essence of true spiritual growth—the shaping of the heart, the refining of the spirit, until the life of Christ is freely flowing through us.

Press on in prayer and study, knowing that in allowing His Word to dwell richly in you, the fruit will come—not by striving, but by growing in Him. Let His work in you be the source of true righteousness, shining forth as a reflection of His image, both now and forever.