Galatians 6:3-5 NKJV
“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”
INSIGHT
-In Swahili self-examination is written as ‘Kujiita Mkutano’. Self-examination is vital lest one believes they are too mature spirituality to fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us that, he who thinks he stands let him take heed lest he falls. It is through temptations that one may fall. Each person is tempted separately and thus important to do self evaluation. Temptation translates to mean enticement to evil or testing that includes various or the same kind of trial. Satan tempts for the purpose of destruction of souls. Let us therefore examine our own thoughts, words and deeds, and become doers of the word of God and not merely hears, by the grace of God. James 1:12 reminds us that, blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love God.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father we thank You and exult Your holy name. You are our Good Shepherd. You are Helper and Shield. May You guide us Holy Spirit in our thoughts, words and deeds, that we may always be pleasing to You. May You give us the grace to resist temptation and walk as You walked dear Jesus. May You help us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. May You grant us, our children and fellow men and women, the wisdom and strength to endure temptations that we may be receive the promised crown of life. May forgive us all our sins and trespasses, and teach us to do Your will always dear Jesus. We pray all this believing and trusting in Jesus mighty name. Amen
Further reading: Philippians 2:12-13, James 1:2-18
II Corinthians 13:5-6 NKJV
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.”
INSIGHT
-Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Abraham the father of faith obeyed God’s instructions without hesitation, even when the command seemed unbelievable. When he was instructed to sacrifice Isaac his son, and he did not ask why, or give excuses but he went up mount Moriah, and a sacrifice was provided. Abraham had strong faith and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Elijah the prophet had faith in God. He prayed and stopped the rain for three years; six months and restored it again (James 5:17-18). Elijah was not disqualified and a chariot came from heaven and took him. Elijah was a man just like us. He believed God, and did marvelous things by the grace of God. We are called to examine ourselves, whether we are in faith. We are called to have faith as little as the mastered seed, and we will move mountains. When we believe God and know that He lives in our hearts, we shall do exploits, and live in hope of His second coming. We should examine ourselves and test our faith, for everything is possible to those who believe.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus was thank You and give You praise. You are our God, in whom we put our trust. Some trust in idols but our faith is in You. Some trust in chariots, others is horses but we put our hope in You. Lord Jesus You have said in Your word that the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, Your soul shall have no pleasure in him. May You help us never to draw back. May You look with mercy those who have backsliden that You may restore their souls. May You allow those who do not know You to enter through Your Door of eternal life. May You bless all the ministers of Your word that You may strengthen them to continue doing the good work of preaching and evangelizing Your gospel for the glory and honor of Your name. May You strengthen more brethren to preach Your gospel for the harvest is plentiful but the harvesters are few. We bless Your name Lord and honor You now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Hebrews 10:38
Lamentations 3:40 NIV
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”
INSIGHT
-During the Babylonian invasion under the rulership of king Nebuchadnezzar, the Israelites lamented and suffered both physically, emotionally and spiritually. Prophets like Jeremiah, formed part of the writers of the poems in the book of Lamentations, expressing God’s guidance and instructions to the people. God was calling the Israelites to examine themselves and return to Him. Like the Israelites, God is calling us today to examine our thoughts, tempers, words, and works, and consider what they have been, whether agreeable or contrary to the holy will of God. Further, to judge our state and character, not by our faint wishes, good intentions, transient resolutions, or even warm affections, but by our steps; and not by one particular step, but by our ways, our whole conduct; the ends we aim at, the rules we go by, and the agreeableness or contrariety of the temper of our minds, and the tenor of our lives to those ends and those rules. When we are in affliction it is peculiarly seasonable to consider our ways as Haggai 1:5 discloses. That what is amiss may be repented of, and amended for the future, and so we may answer the intention of the affliction and chastening of the Lord.
PRAYER
Search me O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Our hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? Only You Lord our God, can search our hearts, test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, and the fruit of his doing. May You forgive us dear Lord Jesus and wash us with Your precious blood. Your word says that blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin. Thank You for blessing us with every kind of spiritual blessing, and by Your grace which abounds forevermore. May You draw us closer to You and Your statutes merciful Savior that we may be more like You. May You help us to forgive those who offend us, and heal our wounds within. May You refresh us with a fresh anointing that we may experience Your presence, peace and love, forevermore. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 139:23-24, Hebrews 12:11, Romans 4:7-8
1 Corinthians 11:28-31 NIV
“Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.”
INSIGHT
-Apostle Paul describes the sacred ordinance of observing the holy eucharist, of which he had the knowledge by the revelation from Christ, as to the visible signs. These are the bread and wine. The bread is the body of Christ changed into flesh and the cup the blood of Jesus Christ crucified. The things signified by these outward signs, are the actual body and blood, of Christ, His body broken, His blood shed, together with all the benefits which flow from His death and sacrifice.
PRAYER
Dear Almighty and Everlasting Father we thank You for the breath of life that You have given us. Thank You for the blessings that You have showered upon us. We count our blessings and name them one by one. Thank You for the good health that You have given unto us. May You heal all those who are sick and suffering in the society. May You deliver all the children living in the streets and grant their needs. May You respond to all our hearts desires together with those of our families. We humbly ask You dear Jesus to forgive us all our sins and sanctify us with Your precious blood. Lord Jesus may You forgive us where we have not discerned Your body and blood and have caused judgement upon ourselves. May You forgive us. May You shed more light through Your word that we may know You more and have the wisdom required for Your great purpose. We thank You dear Lord Jesus and honor You. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Matthew 26:26-29
Matthew 7:5 NIV
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
INSIGHT
-Jesus does not forbid criticism of wrongdoers. What He forbids is censoriousness, the spirit of faultfinding that overlooks one’s own shortcomings while assuming the role of the supreme judge in regard to the sins of others which is hypocritical. God reminds us in Luke 6:37, that we should not judge others and we will not be judged. We should not condemn and we will not be condemned. We should forgive and will be forgiven.
SUMMARY
Self-examination is a vital component of our spiritual, emotional, social and financial health. Introspection should always be based on the word of God lest it becomes deceptive. Self-examination leads to repentance. Lamentations 3:40 reminds us that once we have examined ourselves we should return to God. The parable of the prodigal son discloses that when the lost son came back to his senses, he returned to his father. This is exactly what self-examination does, it brings us to our senses and we return to God with sincere repentance. Haggai 1:7 makes it clear that God calls us to give careful thought to our ways, and seek His mercy. Self examination teaches us to surrender to God. Galatians 6:3-5 cautions us saying, “if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” Self-examination is a process that disqualifies one who is self righteous. Introspection can sometimes lead to self absorption instead of Christ-absorption. We know that none can be righteous by themselves apart from through Christ. We are called to also examine ourselves and test whether we are in faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is a guarantee mark of His righteousness in us. We are therefore called to test ourselves for Christ in us (2 Corinthians 13:5-6), and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we thank You and honor You. We bless Your holy name and revere You, for only You are to be feared before all other gods. Only You are our God and we have no other. We are sorry for the times we have made other idols in things and people, may You forgive us. We are sorry for the many times we have judged and condemned other, please forgive us dear Jesus. May You teach us to forgive as You have forgiven us merciful Savior. May You cleanse us from unrighteousness and anoint us afresh. May You fresh oil flow down Aaron’s beard unto his collar to cause a blessing upon us and our loved ones. May You heal our wounds and deliver us from all cancerous sins and evil. May You open many doors for us prosper and be of good health. May You bring forth Your promises unto us, families, churches, purpose and nation. May You respond to all our needs and desires of our hearts. May You bless us and keep us dear Jesus. May You make Your face shine upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us peace in our hearts, families, nation and all the nations of the world. Amen
Further reading: James 4:12, 1 John 3:20–21