Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”
Autumn is my favorite season. I delight in the cooler weather and vibrant foliage. Pumpkins, apples, scarecrows, hay bales, and candy corn – it all gives me a happy feeling. But this time of year also finds me constantly cleaning. The dust from the fields fills the air; leaves scatter daily over the porch; and, of course, there are all the pesky cobwebs. They show up overnight in the craziest of places. Regularly I find myself brushing them away so they won’t create a real eyesore.
As much as we fight to keep away the unsightly webs of a spider, I wonder how often we seek to clear away the cobwebs from our hearts. Life goes on from day to day, and without taking time to examine ourselves regularly we can fall into thought patterns or actions that are not appropriate for a child of God. Sometimes our sinful tendencies occur without our even realizing it. Jealousy, anger, anxiety, and more can pop up overnight and threaten to overtake our well-being if we do not regularly brush them away.
David, the Psalmist, recognized his own tendency towards waywardness and prayed that God would search His heart. He asked the One Who had knit him together in his mother’s womb to try him and see if there was any hurtful way within him. He desired to be right with God and wanted to be sure that he was not missing something that was troublesome. His goal was to clear away everything that displeased God and to follow Him in the everlasting way.
What a good practice for all of us. To regularly take inventory of our hearts and pray for God to show us any hidden cobwebs is a wise action that is of great benefit.
So enjoy the crisp autumn season. Jump in a colorful pile of leaves. Cozy up in your hoodie sweatshirt. And savor a handful of delicious candy corn. But also take time to examine your heart. Ask God to search for unwanted cobwebs – and when He points one out, make sure to brush that cobweb away as fast as you can. — Love, Mama
