“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV.
Be aware of the priorities and practices important to Christian life and faith.
My thoughts and comments today are about a “personal and spiritual inventory.”
While in college, I worked at a drug store tracking inventory, stocking shelves, and delivering orders to hospitals and care facilities. Taking inventory was my least favorite task. Counting every item on the shelves was laborious. An inventory revealed products no longer in reserve that would be needed, reducing potential sales and possibly disappointing customers. Also, inventory revealed things on the shelf that were no longer useful, taking up space, gathering dust, and wasting capital.
With the benefit of life experience, I now realize that taking inventory is valuable for a business, and even more essential for your life. The New Year is an opportunity to take a personal and spiritual inventory. Paul instructed the Christians at Corinth, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV. Welcome the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. You will discover what you need and don’t have or what you have and don’t need.
Like those stock room shelves, there is much that you and I accumulate along the way. A few of those thing may have seemed helpful at one time, but are no longer. Others are more hurtful than helpful – always were; still are. Consider such things as wrong opinions, old habits, secret sins, prejudices, disappointments, painful memories, attitudes, hurts, grudges, guilt, regrets, and unforgiveness. Those never were useful and are now just emotional and spiritual clutter. You may not be storing all of those, but you likely will find yourself holding on to a few of them on occasions. As the song from Disney’s Frozen advises, “Let it go!”
Self-examination can expose your need for graces and strengths, not as well stocked as once they were while you assume they are. Be aware of the priorities and practices important to Christian life and faith that once were plentiful in your character and activities. Are you ever surprised to discover you haven’t possessed some character qualities you thought you did. The worst kind of deception is self-deception. Humbly and sincerely pray as did David, ”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 NIV.
In your heart, do you still find ample inventory of: Godly dreams, holy aspirations, fervent love, authentic trust, enthusiasm, patience, obedience, engagement with God’s Word, fullness of the Spirit, or a heart of assurance? Peter reasoned, “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance Godliness, to Godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.“ See 2 Peter 1:3-11.
The Bible provided timeless and invaluable counsel for followers of Jesus then, and still is guidance for you today. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23. I’m glad I learned the importance of an accurate, personal and spiritual inventory. ”Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in Heaven” Lamentations 3:40–41.
Today, my prayer for you is for an honest and frequent appraisal of all issues of your heart.