Show Me Who I Am

The gang was back together. It had been several months since the Best Life team was together for a conference. It was far enough away that it required traveling the day before. This meant an old lady pajama party. We shared, we laughed and we prayed. At some point in the conversation, Tiffany shared a simple prayer, “Show me who I am.” 

My favorite Psalm is 139. I love it. It starts with a beautiful reminder of how intimately God knows us. 

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me. (Psalm 139:1-5 NIV)

But, there is more to the Psalm. The Psalm asks God to search within us. It asks God, “Show me who I am.” The final verses read like this:

23 Search me, 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. (Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV)
.

Know my anxious thoughts or any offensive way in me is a prayer for God to do a major work in my life, in your life. We are essentially asking God to show us who we are. The hard part is we might not like what he shows us. 

This is a prayer that challenges us to grow in the likeness of Christ. It challenges us to increase our capacity or compassion, grace and mercy. It challenges us to look deep into our woundedness and let God free us of deep pain. 

Addressing the deep pain is hard. It brings up fears, anxieties, and shame. It takes trust to allow God to bring those up within us. We have to trust that His care for us is as Psalm 139 describes. We have to trust that His promise to clean our inner house is true. 

From my experience, it is so worth it. I didn’t know my heart could be free of dirt and shame from the icky neighbor. I won’t pretend it was an easy process, but it was worth every moment. It was worth letting God into the deep pain and show me His love and care for my wellbeing. 

Are you willing to pray this prayer; God, show me who I am? Have you prayed this prayer. Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.

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