“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 139:23-24  

This is one of the Scriptures from last week’s message concerning David asking God to search his heart. This week let’s look into the second part of his plea [and our own plea].  ‘Try me and know my anxious thoughts’

“Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible” defines the Hebrew word
‘try’ in part as follows:
BACHA--to test; to investigate: examine, prove, tempt, try.

This being so, the person praying this prayer is asking that his/her life be examined and tested.  Of a life tested by the Lord, Scripture tells us that--
*The trying is a refining process:
“But He knows the way I take;
 When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”  Job 23:10

“For Thou hast tried us, O God;
 Thou hast refined us as silver is refined.”  Psalm 66:10

The prophet Zechariah tells us in 13:9,
“And I will bring the third part through the fire,
 Refine them as silver is refined,
 And test them as gold is tested.
 They will call on My name
 And I will answer them;
 I will say, ‘They are My people,’
 And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

“And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the
 sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring 
 offerings in righteousness to the LORD.”  Malachi 3:3

1 Peter 1:7 says,
“That the proof of your faith, being more  precious than gold which is
 perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise
 and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Therefore we see in 1 Peter 4:12,
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes
 upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to
 you.”

*There is the test of the storm:
“Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I
 will show you what he is like:
 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation 
 upon the rock; and when the flood rose, the torrent burst against that house
 and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”  Luke 6:47-48
(Yes, the storms will come, but this is to establish God’s own people on the Rock; our Savior and Lord!)

*There will be a final test:
Christ is our foundation, so Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 3,
“…but let each man be careful how he builds on it.”  Vs. 10
“Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it
 is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each 
 man’s work.”  Vs. 13

And as for those anxious thoughts, we have these precious words in Philippians 4:6-7 which we all know and depend on,
“Be anxious for nothings, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
 thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your
 hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our God is an awesome God and we gratefully thank Him for His mighty word in conforming us to the image of Christ Jesus our Lord.  All praise and glory to Him!  Amen

Reminder: Read the verses in context for a clearer understanding.