In October, well-known holidays such as Columbus Day and Halloween are marked on calendars, but according to Holiday Insights, each day is October is marked by a special celebration. A glance at their website tells us we have Bosses Day, Bologna Day, and National Pasta Day. I no longer work for anyone and I gave up eating bologna a long time ago, so those offer no appeal. Pasta? Yes, given my Italian heritage, I will celebrate that one.
October 19, “Evaluate Your Life Day”, caught my eye. It sounds serious, introspective, and depending on the outcome, life-changing.
King David didn’t write Psalm 139 on October 19, but it is the ultimate guide for “Evaluate Your Life Day”. In Psalm 139, he describes the omniscience of God-knowing every detail of our lives-from our standing up to going to sleep. Beyond knowing our whereabouts, “where shall I flee from your presence?” (verse 7) David says, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether (verse 4).
In the security of an all-knowing, ever-present God, David’s evaluation has three requests: search me, try me and lead me.
“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)
As we follow David’s model, we seek to evaluate and change to make today better than yesterday. We search and ask God to point out the things in our mind, will, emotions, and actions that displease Him.
What did I say this morning that wasn’t loving?
What did I think ten minutes ago that was unkind?
What did I do yesterday, that should have been done with excellence but took a short-cut?
Did I show anger or patience, self-control or irritation at work or at home?
Like David, we can plead: “search me”. When we ask God to show us, He will. Some may call it decluttering, others refer to it as pruning, but it is evaluating to hear from God to remove, change, or make room for something else. It may be difficult and take time. Each day when we open our Bibles, we have an opportunity to evaluate as we place our lives against His truth. As we do, we rest in God’s patient extravagant love as He makes us into who He wants us to be. God desires to lead us to the path He has designed for our good. His perspective is perfect; ours is finite. David knew that and so can we.
So today on Evaluate Your Life Day, what will you do? Can you pause to reflect on where you were last month and where you are today? Are there habits you want to eliminate; disciplines you want to cultivate? Changes you want to make? Each one of us will have a different response but as we search, God will show us.
