Examining Yourself Honestly Before God

In these first few days of your fast, it is essential that you examine yourself honestly before God. Refuse to be deceived by yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any public or private areas of your life that are not pleasing to God. When you try to hide, ignore, or downplay any sin, especially secret sin, remember that God already knows all about them.

Therefore, I want to encourage you to find thirty minutes today with just you and God. Take your Bible with you. Today’s verse from First John tells us that we are to confess our sins to God. Confession means saying the same thing God says about your sin. What does God say about your sins? Your sin, my sin, and all the sins in the world deserve death, judgment, the grave, and hell. But God also says that he gave his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place for our sins. First John 1:9 also says that God will faithfully forgive our sins and clean away any unrighteousness. Yes, our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus.

One of the significant verses in the life of all Jesus’ followers is today’s reading. Therefore, stand upon this Word from God and dive into the challenging waters of evaluating yourself honestly before God.

Now that fasting is quickening your spirit, you will become much more aware of and alert to sinful practices in your life. The Holy Spirit will arrest, convict, and move you to repentance and forgiveness. You will deal with God honestly and perhaps become aware of the need to make things right with other people.

Here are some questions to ask yourself: Am I worrying about anything? Do feelings of inferiority keep me from my desire to serve God? Am I sharing the Gospel? Do I struggle to put the concerns of others first? Am I often angry? As God reveals your sin, confess it, turn from it, and receive God’s forgiveness. Then rejoice; you are forgiven!

Lord Jesus, wash me and cleanse me from all my sin. I want you to cleanse me of all sin and unrighteousness. I receive it now. Amen.