Just Breathe: Hope And Help For Those Drowning In The Pain Of AddictionSample

Evaluate my Life with Fearless Honesty Part 2  

I’m kind of a new football fan. I didn’t grow up playing sports, but my son is a little athletic guy so I’m learning so that I can hang with him. I’ve seen those NFL referees go to the replay monitor and take a closer look at the previous play. They’ll come back onto the field and announce, “After further review, the call on the field is confirmed.” 

It makes me think of how important it is for us to do that with God. It’s always a good idea to come to God and say, “Search me, O God. Let’s go to the replay monitor, rewind, and take a closer look at my character. I’d love to get your eyes on me, because you always make the right call. After further review, what do you see I need to work on?” 

God is for you as you do this process. His steady gaze of unfailing love will guide you as you do this. To begin this self-exploratory surgery, I suggest you get alone and grab a scalpel—just kidding. It might be better to grab a pen and a spiral notebook or maybe a laptop and sit down and recite Psalm 139:23–24.

Ask God to help you out. What’s the honest truth about me? What’s wrong in me? What do I feel guilty about and why? What kind of resentment and bitterness do I have rolling around in there? Point out the things I’ve done, no matter how painful it might be to see them. What are some character defects in me that need changing? God, I’m asking you to reveal me from the inside out. 

And he will. Better than any replay machine, any CAT scan, or MRI, you can expect him to bring to mind some things that you didn’t expect to come up. But that’s what you want. It’s about coming clean.