HOW AM I DOING?

Psalm 139:1-241 O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. 2 You know when Is it and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 Youdiscern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. . . . 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. . . . 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.


Former mayor Ed Koch was known for asking this question of the citizens of New York City: "How am I doing?" People who voted for him may have told him: "Great job. I like what you're doing." Others may have said, "Whatta ya doin'? You must be crazy!"

It's a good question to ask--especially if you are a follower of Jesus. "How am I doing spiritually?" Evaluating our lives is always a helpful thing to do. After all, you have a physical checkup, a car checkup . . . how about a spiritual checkup?

Diagnosis: After studying your x-ray, I see some unconfessed sin in your life. Have you been exercising your spiritual gifts lately? You need to make that a part of your regular routine. You have are curring problem of envy. You have a slight case of gossip but I can see that's clearing up. I detect just a little node of lying. You'd better cut that out before it spreads. And, is it true that you are still experiencing that old nagging pain of doubt? Well, I believe further tests are called for. I'm afraid that they're not totally pain-free.

Friends can be helpful in evaluating how we're doing. "Consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). As followers of Jesus, we want to help each other stay on track.

Of course, the most important key to having a spiritually healthy life is to know the One who knows me intimately. Pray as thepsalmist did, "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).

A final step: "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40). Mayor Koch wasn't just looking for kudos when he asked how he was doing. He wanted to know what he could or should change. And that kind of attitude is the first step toward becoming healthy in Jesus. --Cindy Kasper

DESTINATION POINTS

* Am I living a life worthy of Jesus every day? Is there anything inmy life that God finds offensive?
* What would I put on a personal spiritual checklist to regularly monitor how I'm doing in my walkwith Jesus?

LINKS
How Do You Live The Christian Life?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0702/

bottom line: A healthy spiritual life requires consistency.

soul journey