Testing

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Psalm 66:10 Be Tested And Refined

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. Psalm 66:10

Silver and other metals are often put through a refining process to make the metal more pure. It is a process of heating the metal up to the melting point and then removing any impurities that show up. This process can be done multiple times in order to purify the metal to a higher quality. Most people do not like the process because it is very slow and tedious and get satisfied with a lower level of quality.

The writer of this psalm admits to God that He had tested them and refined them as silver is refined.

Anyone who wants to become better at something will go through a time of testing and being refined. This is most often seen in athletes striving to be the best at what they do. Testing comes during games, while the refining comes through hours and hours of practice and being criticized as to how to do things better.

However, everyone goes through testing and refining in many other ways.

Every believer is a person who at one time did not live for God but has chosen to now live for Him. The believer is going through the process of testing and refining to become a new creation in Christ Jesus. This new creation is to look, act and be more like Jesus, who is the exact representation of God.

The testing comes in hard times and difficulties that bring on extreme heat in one’s life to try a person’s character. Refining is learning how to act and react as Jesus would in every situation, whether good or bad, easy or tough situations. In the end it is to purify one of all sinful characteristics to become holy and pure unto God.

As a believer, God is at work in your life to test you and refine you. He is putting you through a heated process to get rid of the junk in your life and make you more holy and pure like Jesus. Testing will come to see if you have learned anything along this journey. As sinful things come to the surface, Jesus is willing to forgive you and remove those sins, purifying and refining you towards perfection in Christ Jesus. Accept God’s testing and refining process and know that it is for your own good.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will understand God’s times of testing and refining; that you will be made more like Jesus each day; and that you will not grow angry at the times of testing from God.

Picture by Yasin HM on Unsplash

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Psalm 17:3 What Will God Find?

You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psalm 17:3

During a time of what most people think of testing there is a revealing of what a person knows or does not know. People study some subject for a time and then are tested on what they have learned or to reveal what they are short in. Other types of testing, not commonly thought of, do not reveal knowledge but will reveal character traits or how a person will react in a situation.

As David calls out to God, he points out that God has tested his heart and tried him but found nothing wrong. David made it a purpose that he would not say anything that would transgress against God.

Being tested for knowledge creates a lot of anxiety for most people. They are not always sure of themselves in what they should know. Testing of character is often overlooked or ignored, but will also reveal a lot of hidden truth in a person.

It is common for many people to live and speak one way in front of one group of people, but live and speak completely differently in front of another group of people. Their character is not true at all times, and this can often be found in believers in the church, especially in what they say.

Strong believers will make a choice to watch what they say regardless of who they are around. Their words will be words that would please God at all times. Every believer needs to allow God to test them to see what they are really like. God already knows the heart but needs to have it revealed for what it is.

Each day you are among different groups of people. It may be family, friends, co-workers, or just other strangers. Examine your life and see if your words and actions are the same among all of them.

Allow God to test and examine your heart and reveal how you truly are in what you say or do. Live your life in such a way and make it your purpose to say or do nothing that will be a sin against God in private or in public.

What will the test God give you reveal?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will make it the purpose of your life to not say or do anything against God; that God will test your heart to reveal your true character; and that you will found living your whole life for God’s glory.

Picture by Luca Bravo on Unsplash

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Psalm 7:9 God Tests Hearts And Minds

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. Psalm 7:9

It is common for people to have to take various types of tests throughout their lifetimes. Testing begins in school and never completely comes to an end. Most often tests are taken to know how much a person knows about some given subject or ability to do some type of task. These can be done for work or for personal needs. Outside of medical reasons, most do not think about having a test for their heart or mind.

David asks God to bring the wicked to an end and to establish the just, because God tests the hearts and minds.

Although people must take tests on a fairly regular basis, most do not like to take them. People fear failing the tests and do not want to look bad.

One type of test that people often overlook is the test that God gives concerning the heart and mind. Allowing trials and troubles to arise in the life of a believer is the most common way for God to test one’s heart and mind. The purpose of these challenges in one’s life is to see where the heart and mind are focused.

The world has a heart and mind focused on self and the here and now, not God and His kingdom, nor eternity. Believers need to be focused on what God desires first in their lives.

During a time of a testing, it will be determined who or what the believer will run to first. It will also be determined how the believer will react to the situation–whether one will get angry and sin or praise God, trusting Him in the situation.

God will have times in which He will allow a time of testing in your life. There will be difficulties that will arise to see where you stand with God and His commands.

Do not allow yourself to fall into the ways of the world of selfishness and sin, but give God praise and lean upon Him for strength and direction through the testing. Keep your heart and mind focused on who God is, what God is doing and what God can do, rather than what you can do or what the enemy can do. Pass this test with flying colors.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will trust God with all of your heart and mind; that you will pass all the tests God gives you; and that you have a heart and mind after God’s heart and mind.

Picture by Ronaldo de Oliveira under Unsplash

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Judges 3:4 Left For Testing

They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses. Judges 3:4

Everyone goes through times of struggles, times where it appears as if everyone and everything is against them. It can be painful and confusing as one does not always understand why things are the way they are.

Very few can see the larger picture of what is going on, just as children do not always understand the reason for a test in the classroom. Struggles are often times of testing to see how one will react.

God left several nations among the Israelites to test them, to see if they will obey the commands He had given them through Moses.

Testing someone is always done for the purpose to find out what the person knows or how one will do react to something. Most people get anxious when they know they are going to be tested. They fear that they did not study enough or the right things to be ready for the test. If they did not know the test was coming, it causes anxiety in not knowing if they are ready for it or not.

Without being tested, one can never know if he has learned anything or not, or grown or not.

Believers can know that they will be tested by God. In this they can trust that God knows what He is doing, so they can prepare to be ready to obey His commands in every situation, good or bad.

No matter what the situation is God has already given instruction on how to react to it. People have a choice to react in the ways of the world, or to react according to God’s commands, obeying him.

God will allow people or situations in your life to test you, to find out if you have learned to obey Him or not. Do not see times of trials and testing just as something horrible and worthless, but a time of growing and learning.

Going through the difficult time will reveal to you if you are trusting and obeying God or not. It will reveal areas you may need to grow in and other areas you are mature in.

In order to pass a test, you must go through the test. Keep your focus upon God and obeying His word and you will pass the test.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s peace and direction in times of testing; that you will obey God in every situation in your life; that you will know what God desires of you; and that you will pass every test God sends your way.