Scripture: Psalm 26 – 27.

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Psalm 26:1-3 (NLT)

1 Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I believe that one thing lacking in Christianity today is the accountability of believers. For those of us that attend church regularly, and are closely connected to a small group of some sort, we might feel a sense of accountability to members of that group or its leader. For those of us who are members of a small church, we may sometimes feel accountable to the pastor or the deacons because they will notice when we are missing from the congregation on a given Sunday. But how often do we stop and consider how accountable we are to God? David was bold in his approach, for he went to God and asked that God declare him innocent for he knew that he had followed exactly what God desired of him, even down to his motives. I realize that many Christians will boast about their intentions and actions today, but friend this really got my attention. To live a life exemplifying Christ, and to live our lives with to evil or even worldly motives, cannot be accomplished without daily help from Jesus himself. Knowing that God is everywhere and at all times, we must also know that with the world’s strong influence on us, we can only live our lives in a manner pleasing to God with His ongoing touch, support, strength, guidance and power. Let us seek God’s face for a trial today. Let’s be cross examined by Him. Let’s have Him test our motives and our heart. It might be shocking to us to see the work that we must do to truly live our lives for Christ.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I know that I try every day to live my life as an example of what I see in You and from what I know of You, but I wouldn’t dare say like David today that I am totally innocent, for too often I allow the influences of this world to interfere and control me in some manner. Please examine my heart and my motives, and reveal to me the areas of my life that need attention and correction if I am to live my life truly in line with Your will and Your example.

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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