John Wesley (1703–1791) led a highly disciplined life. He created 22 questions for self-examination, which he and his friends in Oxford used daily, for instance: “Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?” These questions formed their ‘method’ of being accountable spiritually, which eventually birthed the Methodist movement.
Although Wesley’s exacting questions are no longer used widely on a daily basis, his approach to self-examination, combined with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can help us to understand ourselves and God better.
King David, who wrote so many of the Psalms, was also someone who sought to know himself and God better. In the well-loved Psalm 139, for example, he shares how God searches and knows him (Psalm 139:1). He understands that, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar” (v. 2). David acknowledges the wonderful mystery of God knowing him so completely: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (v. 6 ). He finds deep contentment in this understanding.
We can entrust ourselves to God’s loving care because we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (v. 14). We know that God has knitted us together in our mother’s womb (v. 13). Therefore we can ask Him to reveal to us our blind-spots and our failings, knowing that He will answer us both graciously and lovingly.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
How could you incorporate self-examination into your daily or weekly routine? How does knowing yourself better help you to love others better?
Loving God, thank You that when You shine Your light on me, I do not need to fear. You help me to love You and others better.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In response to a hostile world that opposed and rejected God (Psalm 139:19–22), David exalts Him and celebrates His character. He’s omniscient—God knows everything about him (vv. 1–4); He’s omnipresent—God is ever-present to protect him (vv. 5–12); He’s omnipotent—God is an all-powerful Creator who sustains him (vv. 13–18 ). Referring to God’s omnipresence, David asks a rhetorical question: “Where can I flee from your presence?” (v. 7). Nowhere! The prophet Jonah learned the hard way that there’s no place to run from God—not even in the belly of a big fish in the depths of the sea (Jonah 1–2). God issued this challenge to His people who thought they could hide from Him: “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24 NLT).
K. T. Sim
Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.
