"THOU UNDERSTANDEST MY THOUGHTS AFAR OFF. SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME!" The Psalmist speaks words of profound truth. If the Lord should search my heart, what might He find there? Evil thoughts, foul corruptions, fearful depravity! But is this all? I trust not. There are some good thoughts towards the Lord God of Israel, and those which are evil I hate. It is not all corruption, for there is a little God-given truth, especially when the Lord says, "Take heed to yourselves that your heart be not deceived." Satan will deceive us if he can. He will try to conceal our defects, that he may lead us into the sin of presumption; and he will obscure our virtues, that he may drive us to despair. If the Lord searches all hearts, hypocrisy must be the height of folly, for it is impossible to deceive Him. We may provoke His wrath, but we cannot impose upon His mercy. Let us then lay open our hearts before God. Let us daily seek the renewings of the Holy Spirit. Let us fly to the open fountain of our Saviour's blood, and daily wash in the laver of God's holy word. Often let us cry with the Psalmist, "Examine me, O Lord." And let us be sincere in all we profess, in all we say, and in all we do.

For Meditation:
In all my vast concerns with Thee,
In vain my soul would try
To shun Thy presence, Lord, or flee
The notice of Thine eye.