Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind. (Psalm 26:2)
God is in the business of testing His people. His testing is as promised as it is promising. Unlike the devil, who tempts us with the intent of tripping us up and turning us away from our Lord, God tests us to strengthen our faith and conform us more and more into the image and likeness of His beloved Son.
Here is a question to ponder today: Do you receive God’s ways — which can be quite mysterious at times — as readily as you receive God’s Word? Every child of God receives His living and active Word with great joy. But there are times when joy is not our first response when we receive God’s ways. God’s ways are not our ways. We expect God to respond to us one way, and He behaves in a completely manner. When this happens — and it happens a lot — we must remember this incredible truth given to us by the prophet:
The ways of the Lord are right. (Hosea 14:9)
Hosea is telling us that no matter what God decrees for us, it is right. God’s way is righteous, fair, just, merciful, and absolutely what we need at that time. You see, God created us for His good purpose; He made us for Himself to expand the cause of His kingdom in this world. He knows what is best for us all the time, and He knows exactly how to deliver that best to us at just the right moment. However, God’s best is often not what we expected or wanted at the time.
When we have difficulty receiving God’s ways, it is usually because we are seeking our will rather than God’s will for our lives. We are pursuing what we want for ourselves rather than seeking what God wants for us. Now, remember that we all have a sinful nature that struggles against the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:17), and it is plain to see that God must intervene on our behalf by delivering His ways if we are ever going to live the life He is calling us to live.
How is it with you lately? Have you been struggling with God’s ways in your life? You are not alone! We all struggle to accept His ways at times. And that is when we must return to Hosea’s assurance that the ways of the Lord are always right! Think about it this way: God loves us so much that He will cause us to walk in His ways rather than our own, knowing that, in the end, it will ultimately be for His glory and our good. When the Lord tests us with His mysterious ways, we must trust Him even when we cannot trace Him. Allow Him to examine your heart and your mind; the result will always be the best!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 