"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23

We ended last week's message with this prayer of the Psalmist. As our
hearts seek to be in right standing before our Heavenly Father this should
be our prayer as well. Why? Because we do not know the depth of our
own hearts nor what lies within. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us,
"The heart is more deceitful that all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?"

Therefore, we need that Searcher of our hearts to expose what is unrighteous
and evil so that like the Psalmist we say,
"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Concerning God's searching of man's heart we see:
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him
with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and
understands every intent of the thoughts..."1 Chronicles 28:9

"Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the hearts of men!" Proverbs 15:11

"I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind..." Jeremiah 17:10

"'Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?' says
the Lord. 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' says the Lord." Jeremiah 23:24

"And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Romans 8:27

The secrets of the heart were known by Christ as Scripture reveals in the
following:
In response to the Pharisees concerning His casting our demons:
"And knowing their thoughts He said to them, 'Any kingdom divided against
itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not
stand." Matthew 12:25 [...knowing their thoughts...] Also see Luke 11:17

"But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, 'Why are you testing Me, you
hypocrites?'" Matthew 22:18 [...Jesus perceived their malice...]

The Pharisees concerning healing on the Sabbath:
"But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the
withered hand, 'Rise and come forward!' And he rose and came forward."
Luke 6:8 [...He knew what they were thinking...]

Concerning those who believed because of the signs Jesus was doing:
"But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all
men, and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man
for He Himself knew what was in man." John 2:24-25 [...He Himself knew
what was in man...]

The admonition to each of us then, is found in Proverbs 4:23
"Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do no turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:23-27

Fix your eyes on the Lord Jesus who is the author and perfector of our
faith!  Praise His holy name!