Whilst I was at university training to be a teacher, one of the schools I did my teaching practice in was under inspection. At the same time, my University department was being Ofsteded too. I can remember one lesson being observed by four people; my Education tutor, the class teacher, the school Ofsted Inspector and the Department Ofsted Inspector. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I think I must have practiced that lesson about 20 times!

We are being watched in life all the time. Our children, neighbours, friends, families and enemies watch us. They watch to see how we react to situations, what we say and how we treat others.
God watches over us, not “from a distance” as the song goes, but from within us. His presence is purposeful, constant, challenging, consistent and comforting.

But the enemy too watches us with a purpose. John 10:10 tells us that he comes to steal, kill and destroy what we do and what we are. He is always looking for ways to come against us. He wants to be the ‘accuser of the brethren’, to find fault with us and bring condemnation, fear, regret and disquiet.

So whose voice are you tuning in to at the moment? Are you hearing voices in your head that rob you of peace, that steal your joy or that threaten to destroy your sense of self?
One of the verses that God seems to be highlighting for me a lot at the moment is the one in Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, God, and know my heart; “¨test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

None of us likes to have our faults pointed out to us. Most of us don’t even really like being appraised and commented on. It can be nerve-wracking to have things about us exposed can’t it? But sometimes it is completely necessary in order for us to grow, develop and mature. And do you know what? I would much prefer letting God get there before the enemy. Whenever He finds something wrong, He has the purpose, power and grace to put it right. In the last few weeks I have been asking God to show me my faults. Its not fun, but it is life-impacting.

How about you? When was the last time you allowed God to expose your de-fault settings?