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.

~Psalm 139: 23-24

This is one of my favorite prayers in Scripture. I love it because it acknowledges that we don't even know our own hearts, and allows us to pour out a heart of dependence on the Lord for our sanctification and growth in Godliness. In Genesis 8, God observed that the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth. I encourage you all to come to terms with the tendency of your heart, and plead with the Lord to show you ever more your anxious and hurtful ways, that you can evermore cultivate a heart that adores Christ and His truth, following Him in the everlasting way.

Can you all share any practical ways in which you check your own heart, trying to see if it is actually centered on Christ, or if it is in fact deceiving you?

It is tough to check your own heart. I know the Spirit is always there to help us know if we're doing what God wants, but our minds and emotions can mix up what the Spirit is leading us to. It's so much easier to go to a HUMAN, rather than to go to God's word or in prayer to the Lord, when we want an answer to a question. I think God did give us wise counsel (pastors, older women, fellow seeking believers) to help us be accountable to what's going on in our hearts. I know that my closest Christian girlfriends know way more about my heart than I'd sometimes like. It helps me to be reminded of Truth by them if I share what's going on in my heart, so that they have room to speak Truth into the situation and help me to fill my mind/heart with what the Word says, rather than what the world says.

I find the best way to check my heart is in the words of Scripture. When I read the Word, and ask the Lord to show me His wisdom, it's amazing how much is revealed. Like James says, it is like looking into a mirror.

I just recently broke up with my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years. We had God in the side pocket of our relationship. Our next step was to either get engaged or go our separate ways. We decided to take some time apart and make God the focus of our relationship and our individual lives. I often find myself asking God to give me this, or provide that for me, or make the timing work out now. So I find that asking Him to show me what he has in mind for me and really humbling myself before Him, really lets the holy spirit take hold of my heart and redirect my affections. I can't fully love in my relationships with men, unless God is at the center of it. So I am redirecting my feet to walk with Him, so that maybe later I can walk hand in hand with a man in the same direction.

I am currently doing Mary's book with two young adult woman individually and I have seen them both in the past week apply this particular verse in their lives...no concidences with God! The timing is perfect as we have just finished the chapter on matters of the Heart as being our priority. I am so proud of both of them as they are making godly choices that are God honoring and difficult. Yet they want to obey and live their lives according to the Scriptures. GO GIRLS, I know that in both their situations their hearts could of easily decieved them because of their own hearts desires but they chose to honor God rather than focus on their emotions and feelings. Love you Gab and Anne xox