Bill and BJ Rudge
Want to know the spiritual condition of your heart? Honestly evaluating the following self-examination will help determine whether you are lukewarm or a committed believer. It may take some time, but it will be well worth the effort. A good strategy would be to read the list straight through, then go back and reflect on each one.
May the Holy Spirit speak to your heart as you prayerfully ponder these crucial questions –– and forgive you and help you change the ones on which you come up short.
- Do I merely know about Jesus, or do I know Him personally?
- Am I trying to be my own god and fulfill my goals, dreams, and vision, or is Jesus Christ Lord of my life?
- Am I trying to force God to do my will, or am I seeking His will and walking in obedience to it?
- Am I obstinate, hard-hearted and stiff-necked, or yielded and available so God’s Spirit can work in and through me?
- Do I have an attitude of pride and haughtiness, or humility and meekness?
- Are the things I do and say motivated by a desire for my own recognition, or to exalt and glorify Him?
- Am I tolerating deceit and lies, or living a life of integrity?
- Am I squandering my time with the Lord, or reading my Bible and praying every day to grow spiritually and obtain His guidance and strength?
- Do I give up when facing obstacles and opposition, or do I persevere and refuse to quit until God’s purpose is fulfilled?
- Is my life out-of-control, or am I developing discipline and self-control over my tongue, thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and behavior?
- Do I control my words and behavior, or do they control me?
- Do my words cause discouragement, hurt, and pain to others, or encouragement, healing, and help?
- Do I listen to gossip and engage in unprofitable conversations, or try to resolve conflicts and pray for those in need?
- Am I controlled by bitterness and the lusts of the flesh, or is love and the fruit of the Spirit manifest in my life?
- Am I afraid or embarrassed to share my faith in Jesus Christ with a world that so desperately needs Him, or do I look for opportunities to tell others about Him?
- Am I a witness for Jesus Christ, or do I need to be witnessed to?
- Do I have the courage to stand alone when necessary for my faith in Christ –– even in the face of persecution, or do I compromise by saying nothing or outrightly denying Him?
- Would I be faithful to my Lord even unto death?
- Is the world conforming me to its image, or am I being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ?
- Am I a victim of peer pressure, or daring to be different and making my life count?
- Am I tolerating hidden sins in my life (that supposedly no one knows about), or am I seeking to live a life of purity and integrity before the Lord and the world?
- Do I have a passion and desire for God more than sports, money … or anything or anyone else?
- Is the real priority of my life Jesus Christ, or someone or something else?
- Do I care more about impressing people, or honoring the Lord?
- What does the use of my money and spare time reveal about me?
- Is my life filled with doubt, fear, unbelief, murmuring, and complaining, or testimonies of His faithfulness?
- Is my inner life filled with turmoil and confusion, or peace and joy?
- Do I worry and fret all day, or praise the Lord and trust Him to get me through?
- Do I love people and serve them, or attempt to manipulate others to get what I want?
- Am I jealous of other people’s success and possessions, or do I rejoice when God blesses or uses someone else?
- Do I attend a church that tickles my ears and makes me feel good, or one where the pastor and people have a heart for Scripture, prayer, fellowship, service, evangelism, and missions?
- Are the funds I give to churches and ministries being wisely used to advance His Kingdom, or wasted on unnecessary expenses and projects?
- Do I spend time daily in Bible study and prayer, or squander my time in unfruitful pursuits?
- Do I invest in the spiritual development of my family by having devotions on a regular basis, or am I too busy or unmotivated to even pray with my children at bedtime?
- Does my heart long for the return of Christ and the establishment of His millennial kingdom, or do I keep looking back to Egypt in pursuit of the lusts and desires of a fallen world?
- Do I serve the Lord to get what I can here and now, or is my ultimate desire eternal rewards?
- Am I certain of my eternal destiny, or unsure of my final fate?
- What will the example of my life and the legacy I leave my children and family be if I die today?
- Would I be ashamed if my spouse or children discovered the sites I visited on the Internet?
- Do I allow television programs in my house that compromise my biblical convictions, or is my home a safe oasis for my family?
- Would Jesus watch these programs with me and my family?
- Am I willing to limit or remove television and the Internet from my home for one month as a fast unto the Lord and to break any stronghold it may have in my life?
- Do I avoid and flee from sexual immorality and pornography, or do I pursue self-centered pleasure?
- Am I married and committed, or living together in sexual sin?
- Do I maintain pure devotion to Jesus Christ and His Word, or do I allow an unholy mix of Eastern, occult, mystical, or New Age beliefs and practices?
A few more questions …
- Do I realize that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be a living sacrifice –– totally committed to the Lord in every way for His honor and glory?
- Do I understand that my mind is to be renewed and transformed by God’s Word and that I am to have the mind of Christ by bringing every thought captive to obedience to Jesus Christ and dwelling on that which is true, honorable, and praise worthy.
- Do I know that my spirit was created in the image of God and that I am to be filled with His Spirit, walk in the Spirit, develop the fruit of His Spirit, manifest the gifts of the Spirit, and be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?
I hope the preceding exam determined you are in good spiritual health. But if your check-up was less than ideal and His Spirit has convicted you, the prescription to get your heart right before the Lord is to humble yourself and repent as you ask Him to forgive you (1 John 1:9).
Then implement His effective remedy by beginning now to spend time daily in His Word and prayer. Before you know it, His Spirit will restore your relationship with Him as your First Love. As a healthy believer, you will be a bold and faithful witness in a day and age that desperately needs His light, love, and truth.
Make Christ Lord of your life today –– and every day. I pray you fulfill the goals, dreams, and vision God puts in your heart. May He accomplish His purpose in and through you. And may you always be motivated to reach your maximum potential in Christ –– physically, mentally / emotionally, and spiritually! www.billrudge.org
