None can search the heart but God; none are desirous or willing for the heart to be searched but real Christians. A believer desires to know the worst. He dreads deception.
Grace has made him honest, and he prays, "Lord, search me." If a man was to search, he would expose, irritate, and injure us; but if God search, He will humble, strengthen, and heal us. The man who sees himself in the light of truth, and knows himself as the effect of divine searching, cannot trust himself for one moment.
He flees from self to Jesus, from law to grace; he loathes himself; and while he confidently trusts in Jesus, and rejoices in hope, he walks humbly with his God. He cannot boast, he dares not presume; but walks in holiness, and ascribes all to free grace.
Beloved, take the heart to Jesus to be searched. He says, "I am He that searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins." If He search you, He will save you from deception, self-righteousness, and every false way.
Be this your daily prayer, "Search me, O God, and lead me in the way everlasting. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me: try my reins and my heart." Let a man examine himself. You need searching.
Lord, search my heart, and try my ways, And make my soul sincere; Then shall I stand before Thy face, And find acceptance there.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
None can search the heart but God; none are desirous or willing for the heart to be searched but real Christians. A believer desires to know the worst. He dreads deception.
Grace has made him honest, and he prays, "Lord, search me." If a man was to search, he would expose, irritate, and injure us; but if God search, He will humble, strengthen, and heal us. The man who sees himself in the light of truth, and knows himself as the effect of divine searching, cannot trust himself for one moment.
He flees from self to Jesus, from law to grace; he loathes himself; and while he confidently trusts in Jesus, and rejoices in hope, he walks humbly with his God. He cannot boast, he dares not presume; but walks in holiness, and ascribes all to free grace.
Beloved, take the heart to Jesus to be searched. He says, "I am He that searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins." If He search you, He will save you from deception, self-righteousness, and every false way.
Be this your daily prayer, "Search me, O God, and lead me in the way everlasting. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me: try my reins and my heart." Let a man examine himself. You need searching.
Lord, search my heart, and try my ways, And make my soul sincere; Then shall I stand before Thy face, And find acceptance there.