Encouragement

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Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Search me, Oh God.
Bring to mind
every part of me
that is not pleasing to You
that I might change,
and be changed --
that I might be renewed.

Search me, Oh God.
Show me, now,
all things not pleasing
to the awesome, righteous King
that I might be
Your temple,
clean to house Your being.

Cleanse me, Oh God,
from all sin
and unrighteousness.
Make me pleasing to Your sight.
Help me to live
in Your will,
a beacon in the night.

I have no idea how other speakers work on their speeches, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who is thankful for time, completely alone, to talk to walls, door facings, the air, or whatever else is available for us to work it out, or rather, “talk” it out. By the grace of God, it bounces back off the wall and SOUNDS different when it’s spoken than it does when it’s written. This way, we know what needs to be changed (slightly reworded), left out completely, or redone altogether.

Maybe I shouldn’t be sharing this. It probably won’t add much to your assurance of my sanity to tell you that I walk around the house for hours on end, preaching the Word of God to knick-knacks and cabinet facings. Nevertheless...

In early September, 2003, I was working diligently to put together the plans for a women’s retreat. When I had it all studied, outlined, and ready to try out, I decided it was time to pace the hallway and give the walls the privilege of being my very first congregation. Well, they didn’t complain! Honestly though, I needed to hear it spoken to be comfortable with it.

I thought everything was sounding pretty good. I was picking up the pace a bit, getting excited about what the Lord had given me to share. I had come to the part about David: “... and David asked the Lord to search his heart.”

Turning back to face the other end of the hallway, I continued my sermon to the walls: “At this point, I would like to challenge each and every one of you to sincerely ask the Lord to search your hearts.”

Before I could go on, there was a sudden urging in my spirit: “No! Not ‘sincerely ask!’ That’s not what David did! David CRIED OUT! David cried out, ‘Oh, God!’”

So, I backed up a few paces and started over: “I challenge each and every one of you to cry out, as David cried out. ‘OH, GOD’” And I cried out loudly. “Cry out and ask the Lord to search your heart.”

I was quite content and thankful for the change. But the Lord stopped me there and I was unable to continue on with my sermon. Right then, I knelt down in the middle of the hallway: “What about me, Lord? Search me! What do you see when you look inside me? What do you see?”

Silence. Nothing. I’m not sure what I expected. I suppose I thought the Lord would search me out and find all kinds of horrible things in me. I was almost afraid to ask. But the biggest part of me just wanted to be clean, to be pleasing in the eyes of God. I waited. Still, silence. Nothing.

I finished my speech. The walls didn’t crumble. The ceiling didn’t fall. But I still had a deep and aching desire to know that the Lord had searched my heart. As afraid as I was to actually know the answer, I needed an answer. I knew the Lord was faithful, though, and that the answer would come in His time, His way. As well as I could, I tried to go on with my day without worrying too much about it.

I’d had the house to myself all morning, thank God. Otherwise, I’d have probably hesitated to wall preach and I’d have failed to recognize the change needed in the speech. I’d also have missed the opportunity to have my heart searched. Shortly after I got done, it was time to drive across town and pick up my daughter from her friend’s house. But the question still laid heavily on my heart: “What do you see when you look inside me?”

Trying to get the question out of my mind, sure that the Lord would eventually come through with an answer, I looked for a way to preoccupy myself with other thoughts. I thought, “Ah! Praise music!” I turned on the radio. Within seconds, I had to pull over onto the side of the road. I couldn’t see to drive through the tears as the Lord ministered to me:

“I can see tears filling your eyes
and I know where they’re coming from.
They’re coming from a heart that’s broken in two
by what you don’t see.
The person in the mirror
doesn’t look like the magazine.
Oh, but when I look at you it’s clear to me that...

I can see the fingerprints of God.
When I look at you,
I can see the fingerprints of God
and I know it’s true;
You’re a masterpiece
that all creation quietly applauds
and your covered with
the fingerprints of God.

Never has there been and never again
will there be another you,
fashioned by God’s hand
and perfectly planned
to be just who you are
and what He’s been creating
since the first beat of your heart
is a living, breathing,
priceless work of art.

I can see the fingerprints of God
when I look at you.
I can see the fingerprints of God
and I know it’s true;
You’re a masterpiece
that all creation quietly applauds
and you’re covered with
the fingerprints of God.

Just look at you;
You’re a wonder in the making.
Oh, and God’s not through. No,
In fact, He’s just getting started.

I can see the fingerprints of God.
When I look at you,
I can see the fingerprints of God
and I know it’s true;
You’re a masterpiece
that all creation quietly applauds
and your covered with
the fingerprints of God.”

Stephen Curtis Chapman -- “Fingerprints of God”

© Joyce Pool

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