Test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23b)
Some people test well while others do not, regardless of whether they are smart or know the required information.
People become so stressed at the idea of testing that it can cause them to forget everything they know. When testing is only used to obtain a grade in school, it is not a true measure of ability or intelligence and may not even be for the test-taker’s good.
However, some tests actually benefit the person being tested. When I go to a doctor with an ailment, I want to know the source of the pain. If they don’t find anything, I welcome when they send me to the lab for blood tests, because I have a desire to know the root cause. I believe this is the case for King David, who penned the words, “Test me, and know my anxious thoughts.” He is asking the Lord to reveal the troubling thoughts causing his state of anxiety.
This is a situation where testing can be of value. The same approach is beneficial for our spiritual walk. When we ask the Lord for a search and there is nothing to be found, that is all well and good. On the other hand, when something is detected, that is for our good too. We can take David’s approach when there is anxiety in our lives and we cannot determine the reason on our own.
We can be assured that the test results that God reveals are for our good, because he wants our lives to be stable. Praying each day and staying in good communication with God leads to early detection.
Prayer points: Prayer is the way to stay in touch with our thoughts and feelings. When our thoughts and feelings are abnormal, it is time to say to God, “Test Me.”
God bless you!
For more on this topic, watch Peola’s video Prayer Leads to Early Detection and listen to her Blog Talk Radio program The Prayer Journey.
