I can tell you a way in which you can grow closer to the Lord than ever before. A way to have more favor with God and people than ever before. A way to experience more of His protection, provision, and healing in the days to come. What is it? Ask the Lord on a regular basis to cross-examine you, as the verses above say. In other words, let God deal with you. One translation of verse 24 says, "Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (NLT) Imagine the courage and the desire to please God that are behind this prayer. These are the words of David the shepherd-king. This man was not only brave in battle, but he was brave in his relationship with the Lord, too.

In Psalm 19, David declares to God, "How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults." (verse 12 NLT) David freely admits that he isn't even aware of all the ways that he sins against God each day. So he wisely asks the Lord to cleanse him from these "hidden faults." Is it any wonder that the Bible records God saying of this man - "I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do"? (Acts 13:22 NIV)

In Psalm 90, Moses the man of God wrote: "You spread out our sins before You - our secret sins - and You see them all." (v. 8 NLT) Since we can't hide any of our sins from the Lord, we should realize and remember that confessing them to Him quickly and sincerely is our best option. When we do, we can trust Him to keep His promise to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness because of our faith in Christ. (1 John 1:9)

You and I can enjoy greater intimacy with God, and more favor with Him and others in 2021. We can experience more supernatural protection, provision, and healing in the coming New Year. We just need to let God deal with us more than we ever have before, and to submit to His dealings with humility and reverence. Happy New Year!

Prayer: "God, I invite Your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I'm walking on, and lead me back to Your glorious, everlasting ways - the path that brings me back to You!" (Psalm 139:23-24 TPT)