Self-Examination: A Needed Discipline
February 26, 2026 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
When it comes to spiritual disciplines, many of us are familiar with Bible reading, prayer, fasting, and memorization. The old child’s limerick, “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow… grow… grow,” is simple and truthful. But there is more to spiritual discipline. What we do with the Bible and how we apply it to our hearts and minds are also essential components to our spiritual growth. In light of this, the Puritan writers of the 17th century wrote about the discipline of self-examination.
Such self-examination is not an unhealthy preoccupation with self, but a Godward discipline in which we evaluate our lives in light of God’s word. We do not look inward to find greatness within, but to find the hand of God in our lives. Matthew Bingham in his book A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation writes, “In self-examination you are reflecting on the shape of your life, on God’s providential care for you, on your growth in grace and godliness, on your conduct toward others, and on your indwelling sin and need for ongoing forgiveness and inward renewal” (p. 201). It is through self-examination that we massage the truth of Scripture deeper into our hearts, our thought life, and our habits.
According to the Puritans, there are two primary focuses for this self-examination. The first is related to our battle with indwelling sin. As we read Scripture, we should also examine our hearts and lives to identify areas that are out of step with God’s will. For example, we read in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” This beloved verse teaches us that God is a faithful and loving caregiver for all our needs. Because of his shepherding, we lack nothing and have no need to be anxious in life. In self-examination, we take this truth to investigate our heart and see if there are areas where we are anxious and longing for more. As areas of sin and weakness are exposed, we are led to repent and hope in the work of Christ. If we merely read the Bible without this self-examination, we hinder the work of the Spirit in convicting us of sin and we will not grow in overcoming sin.
Puritan John Owen wrote extensively on this need for self-examination in our battle against sin. For example, in his work Overcoming Sin and Temptation, Owen wrote, “Let him that would not enter into temptation labor to know his own heart, to be acquainted with his own spirit, his natural frame and temper, his lusts and corruptions, his natural, sinful, or spiritual weaknesses, that, finding where he weakness lies, he may be careful to keep at a distance from all occasions of sin.” It is through regular self-examination in light of Scripture that we grow in awareness of our weaknesses and sinful inclinations. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, then, we are better equipped to avoid temptation.
The second focus for self-examination is related to the providence of God in our lives. “Hindsight is always 20/20” is a common phrase. It highlights the fact that it is easier to see what was happening in our lives when looking back into the past than it is to see what is happening in the present. It is similar with the providence of God. It is far easier to look back and see how God was working in our lives than it is to discern his purposes in our present circumstances. The value of this self-examination, reflecting on God providence in our lives, is to bolster our hope and confidence in God for our present troubles.
Puritan John Flavel wrote in The Mystery of Providence, “It is the duty of the saints…to reflect upon the performances of providence for them in all the states, and through all the stages of their lives…it has been the pious and constant practice of the saints in all generations, to preserve the memory of the more famous, and remarkable providences that have befallen them in their times as a precious treasure.” The promise of Psalm 23:6 is “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” When we “reflect upon the performances of providence” we see God’s goodness and mercy evident in our life. These become a “precious treasure” that draws our hearts into deeper delight and trust in the Lord.
I know this is just a brief overview of the discipline of self-examination, but I hope it stirs in you a desire to cultivate this habit. Do not merely read the Bible, but take time to reflect on your heart and mind and actions in light of the truths you find in Scripture. This practice will yield for you a very precious treasure.
