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I got a phone call in the middle of the school day from my son Preston. He was calling from the nurse’s office at the middle school. Here’s how the conversation went:
“Hey mom. It’s Preston. I’m not feeling well, and I have a temperature of 96.5. Can you come get me?”
“96.5 degrees?” I asked. “Honey, that’s below normal! That doesn’t sound right.”
“I know,” he said, “but I don’t feel well. Can you please come pick me up?”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be right there.”
I chuckled the whole way to the school at what he had said. Surely he misread the thermometer! A normal temperature is 98.6. Something was off. I got to the school in a North Carolina minute and headed straight to the nurse’s office. While Preston packed his bag to go home, I spoke privately to the school nurse. With a grin on her face, she explained to me that Preston was resistant to putting the thermometer under his tongue as she had instructed him to do. He wasn’t comfortable with that. “So,” she said, “he held the thermometer between his lips.” The nurse and I exchanged amused glances as I thanked her for helping my son.
Although Preston knew something wasn’t right with his body, the nurse didn’t get an accurate temperature reading because he didn’t place the thermometer deep enough into his mouth. He didn’t let it probe past the surface of his lips.
Later that night, as I thought back on the day, the Lord spoke to my heart. I realized that I’m often as stubborn as Preston because there are many times when I resist having an accurate reading of my spiritual wellness taken. Times when I won’t let Him probe past the surface of my heart, my actions, my attitudes, and my perspective – to allow God to reveal the accurate spiritual temperature of my life. Times when I’m not comfortable with deeper-level stuff… when I won’t sit still to listen.
I was disturbed by that thought.
I needed to be disturbed by that thought. By that truth. Just because I’ve been a Christian for a long time does not mean that I’m always in perfect spiritual health. In fact, the more I learn about God’s holiness through the Bible, the more I realize how much I need His grace and strength every minute of every day.
You might not “feel well” today. Perhaps you have spiritual indigestion from your marriage, your children, your friendships, your finances, your singleness, your conversations. You could be “sick” from the shows you watch, the internet relationships you’ve developed, the gossip or harsh words you allow to pass from your lips, the jealousy you feel in your heart. Maybe you haven’t allowed your heart to be probed recently… you’ve been resistant because you don’t like to feel uncomfortable, convicted or exposed.
The Bible tells us that the kindness of God leads us to repentance, and repentance leads us to restoration. To wellness and holiness in Christ. What’s your spiritual temperature? Are you hot or cold? Is the flame of faith in your heart fading or raging? Have you sat still long enough lately to ask God to search your heart? It’s time for an accurate reading, friend.
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9
Holy Father,
As the psalmist prayed, I ask that you would, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV).
In Jesus’s Name I pray,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Take a spiritual inventory today. Spend a few moments considering your spiritual wellness. Ask God to probe your heart and reveal areas in your life that need to be made right as you answer the following questions:
What is your quiet time like?
Is God a top priority in your life?
Do you set aside time regularly to read your Bible?
Read John 15:1-11, then write a prayer response.
Click here to LISTEN to a song called Restore that connects with this devotion beautifully.
Comments 12
Awesome! I read this because I was waking out of a dream that a lady was saying to me that “I have a temperature for the Word”.
I begin to research what those words was saying to me.
I needed to read this today.. I am a recent widow of 3 years and I am in a place where I need to feel happy again. I could not have made it this far without God and am so thankful He has carried me through. I am so excited about this Bible study. Its the first online study I have ever participated in. Thank you Lord for friends who share your Word!
I am grateful for this devotion. I know my spiritual temperature is off right now. I try to search for the Lord and keep my heart in touch with his but I struggle so much with hearing his voice and being still enough for him to search me. I know I need to give him more time and open my heart to him. I don’t want to make excuses. I’m in the midst of depression and my Dr asked me. Is my drive and ambition gone? Is my appetite gone? Yes all of the above. To the point my physical health is suffering from it. Whet my appetite for you Father. Open my eyes to your love and peace and joy. Restore my soul again. Lift me from the low spot . Restore my soul. Give me the desire to strive to be healthy again. Spirit and soul and body. Lift me up to new heights set my feet on you as my rock and allow me to find life in you the vine. Restore my soul again Lord. I praise you for never leaving me. Thank you Lord for saving me.
Blessings on you Gwen for your continued encouragement.
thank you so very much, I needed to hear the message and your comment, I am going through the same thing. I know I need to turn to God I am dealing with symptoms of discouragement in every aspects of my life. I ask the Lord to search my heart for any trace of discouragement- and to eliminate its destructive power from my life.
Amen
Yes! Very refreshing! Would love to see you in Puerto Rico
For Cathy
These are a couple of my favorite scriptures that speak to why we’re here…and in 2 Corinthians, our purpose. 🙂
Ephesians: 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: –
Psalm: 139. 13. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psalm: 139. 16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. – Bible Offline
2 Corinthians: 5. 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. – Bible Offline
I was not planned or wanted as a child, but I now know that God had a plan for me and that has helped make a different in my life. Not where I know I should be with how I feel about my self worth. Still struggling with “what is my purpose”.
This is my first read from your blog. Just perfect. Exactly what my heart and soul needed to hear today. Thank you for sharing this.
Author
Glad you stopped by, Laura! 🙂 And GOD knew… 😉 Come by again soon – and/or sign up to get my posts in your inbox… we are launching a fresh NEW site within 48 hours!! EXCITING STUFF!!
Warmest Blessings,
Gwen
By keeping my eyes focused on the only ONE who is completely failure proof, the only One who keeps HIS promises, the only ONE who’s very name is feared by satan, I will continue to grow stronger against temptation and the desires of my heart will be more Christ-like and seeking HIS will becomes the desire of my soul.
Thank you for this article. It opens my eyes to search my heart deeper for anything that may keep me from fully being all God desires me to be for HIM!
❤️ This devotional so spoke to my heart this morning. In the craziness of a summer schedule with children, vacation, extended family and expectations, it takes discipline to find some quiet time to sit still before the Lord and allow Him to probe and speak to my heart. However, as I make the choice to be still, I find that He meets my needs, brings peace to my heart and gives me wisdom to navigate difficult circumstances. ? Thank you, Gwen for sharing this today! Sending love, hugs, and prayers your way!
Author
Yay! That’s what I like to hear! 🙂
Sending love, hugs and prayers right back!
GWEN