Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
As we approach the footwork of Principle 4 by doing an inventory (which is the proof of our newfound faith in Christ), we must ask ourselves: are we fearful, anxious, or worried about what we might face? This is not only understandable but is an expected reaction of our flesh or sinful nature. The scripture states that we hate the light as long as we are in darkness, and we fear the possibility that our deeds might be exposed. John 3:19-20, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” We have also been humbled by our past to the point that we are now not proud of what we once were, and it now causes us shame, guilt, regret, and remorse. Romans 6:21, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”
Now, as a child of God and believing that we have a loving heavenly Father we must accept His way of bringing us closer to Him despite what our feelings try to tell us. We have learned through the scriptures and the fruit that has been born in our new life in Christ that our feelings or emotions are not a valid or trustworthy compass to the obedience and ways of God. They cannot be trusted in the majority of circumstances. Therefore, we must believe the scriptures when they tell us that God loves us and, therefore, He will discipline us. Hebrews 12:6-7, 11, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?... Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Isaiah 1:16-18 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
We must remember that the LORD wants us to reason with Him about our true nature and to learn a whole and fruitful way of life.
God has made everything possible for us to be clean and sober before Him through His grace. He has made provision for every change that is required for our lives to be abundant and overflowing. He starts by changing the inside of us.
We need to ask ourselves at this point, why would God, after doing all these good things in us and for us, want us to remember (look at) our “evil ways and deeds” and to loathe ourselves for our “iniquities and abominations”? (Ezekiel 36:26-27, 31) In Psalms 36:1-2 we are told, “An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.”
If we state that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and, furthermore, the truth is not in us! In essence, God is telling us that He associates our refusal to identify sin with wickedness. When we deceive ourselves by refusing to identify these things in our lives, it shows that our understanding of His Word is blocked and has no place in us. (Ephesians 1:6; 1 John 1:8-10)
John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
If we truly believe God’s Word that this process is biblical and a necessity for us to be clean and sober, we are now obediently ready to begin. Since confess means to acknowledge, we can begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in identifying to what extent the strengths and weaknesses (personality traits) in our lives manifest themselves. It also shows the full extent and truth of our repentance as we do everything possible to have our lives restored by Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 7:10-11.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
We will get some idea of this cleansing as we check the appropriate columns in the following inventory. Be sure of the following promises as you begin this process (Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:20-21).