How do you prepare your heart for Easter? While there are many different ways to align ourselves to the message of the cross, a key part of each is engaging in deep reflection and self-examination. As we look ahead to celebrating the empty tomb, we do well to reflect on our relationship with the Lord, on our desperate need for His presence and guidance and on those areas of our lives where we have denied Him authority.

“Let us examine and probe our ways and turn back to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40 CSB)

This sort of examination is difficult. Forced to evaluate our motives and thoughts, we must shine a light on the hidden parts of our hearts we often prefer to leave untouched by the Lord. In my life, I use Scripture to guide me through this process.

“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 CSB)

Is my life marked by acting justly? Does my character reflect the power of the Lord in my life?

Is my life marked by faithfulness to God and others? Do I seek to humble myself and put the interests of others ahead of my own? Am I more concerned with being right or with being righteous?

Is my life marked by a humble walk with God? Does the way I spend my time and money reflect what I say about God’s priority in my life? Am I consistently willing to be obedient even when it costs me something? Am I willing to sacrifice good things in order to have God’s best for my life?

Another passage I often use for times of examination is Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”

First, we ask God to search us. We give Him the invitation to penetrate the walls of our sinful hearts and reveal truth to us.

Second, we ask the Lord investigate our hearts and minds.

Then, we ask Him to test us. When God tests us, He reveals our essential character, our integrity. When we ask him to “know our concerns,” we seek to know those areas that we have not fully trusted to the Lord’s able care. When we ask him to “see any offensive way,” we, recognizing that we don’t always see those parts of our lives that are sinful, ask the Lord to reveal our offensive ways so that we might confess.

In asking him to lead, we affirm the Lord’s authority in our lives and lay down our own agenda and desires in order to follow Him.

This week, I pray that you will carve out significant time to allow the Lord to search your heart, to reveal the hidden things that are separating you from Him and to give you opportunity trust Him with the hurts and cares you have been holding to yourself.

Precious Father, thank You for Your grace. Give us awareness of our need for Your searchlight, and give us courage to act on what You reveal. Help us understand our need to examine ourselves and the freedom You give as we trust You to change us. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.