Heart Searchings by Eliza H. Morton

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 16, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 23.

Heart Searchings

By Eliza H. Morton

We read that when Deborah was judge in Israel, and the army was about to go to battle, at the watercourses of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. The Israelites remembered their past lives of disobedience to God's commands, and realized that their vows had been broken. They saw clearly that if they had obeyed the Lord, they would have been kept from many tribulations. They made vows and resolutions for the future, and were blessed of God.

In crises and extremities, we call upon God, and vow that if He will give us the desire of our hearts, we will henceforth be His faithful followers; but too often those vows are forgotten when the thing desired is attained. Memory, which has been called "God's phonograph," speaks back to us the history of our lives, and God's Spirit comes into our hearts, that we may examine our ways.

It is easy to excuse and cover up sin. But when we consider that the transgression of one man, hidden though it was, prevented the blessing of the Lord from descending upon a whole people, as in the case of Achan, it stands us in hand individually to be right with God; for if we do not "clear the King's highway," all obstacles will be removed by an overwhelming scourge from the Almighty.

"Search Thou my heart, O God, Let me see all my sin, And then will I confess The hidden thought within. "O, let Thy Spirit come, With all its old-time power. Accept and bless and save This very day and hour." Eliza H. Morton.