My Innermost Being

The LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

Psalm 11:4

Medical technology has come so far in recent years that it’s now possible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to slice images of the body wafer-thin and create three-dimensional models of organs and tissues to find abnormalities and diagnose disease. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) takes the technology one step further. Instead of creating images of organs and tissues as an MRI does, the fMRI looks at blood flow in the brain and detects areas of activity. It allows doctors to get a physical representation of our mental processes. An fMRI might even be able to detect whether we’re telling the truth.

Amazing! Doctors can see past the surface of our bodies into their deep and hidden places and discover problems not visible to the technologies of years past. What an advantage it is to be able to detect diseases and irregularities in the beginning stages or exactly locate a tumor or lesion for removal.

God says that he is able to see into our innermost beings. He sees the motives behind our words and actions and the wounds that fester inside and release their toxins into our relationships. He sees the scar tissue that has built up over areas of our emotions from our efforts to ward off the pain of exposure.

And then he pours out the healing balm of his Spirit on our inner wounds. He excises cancerous thoughts and memories with pinpoint accuracy to make us whole. The hidden hurts and secret sins may not be obvious at a glance, but they are nonetheless deadly. Our Father-King sees and knows before we become aware, and he is already in the process of healing: “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24).

Heal me from the inside out. Examine my heart and heal its ills. Pour yourself out in my innermost being.

The all-seeing eye of God beheld our deplorable state; infinite pity touched the heart of the Father of mercies; and infinite wisdom laid the plan of our recovery.

David Brainerd(1718–1747), American missionary to Native Americans