August 4 | Psalm 139:23-24

Dave Mann
Aug 4, 2025
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Praying for Correction?

By Dave Mann

Today’s text is a two-verse prayer. When prayed sincerely, it requires a heart of trust in that we trust God who truly loves us and wants the best for us. The person voicing this prayer is laying him/herself out to receive correction from the Lord to live a redirected life.

I don’t know anyone who likes being corrected and criticized. Only when we are confident that the other person is wise and loving will we open ourselves to receive correction. However, if we are never open to correction, how will we ever grow and become more than who we currently are?

If we are not able to pray this prayer in which we ask God for correction, what human being, flawed as they are, will ever pass muster to qualify as the “corrector”? There are times when God communicates with us directly, but my experience is that God most often speaks to me through other human beings. If I am not open to the correction offered to me through people, then I am not open to God’s correction either.

This short but radical prayer of Psalm 139:23-24 reminds me of the theme of correction that is expressed in many of the biblical proverbs. Here are a few proverbs that echo the sentiment of this challenging prayer.

Proverbs 15:32 -- Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. When we do not want to be exposed to criticism, we forfeit the possibility to become the best person we can be. for our own lives. We do not love ourselves.

Proverbs 15:12 -- Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. We normally choose our friends and companions because they say nice things to us. However, wise people know what needs improvement in our lives. They are wise not only because of their keen insight but also because their wisdom gives them the ability to share with us difficult matters in a way that we can receive their suggestions. If we do not like correction, we will steer clear of wise people.

Proverbs 15:31 -- Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.

Proverbs 27:17 -- As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. When we are open to correction, we will benefit from friends who help us become better people.

Proverbs 10:17 -- Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

If we want to be of benefit to other people, we need first to listen to correction about things in our own lives. If we listen to the correction from God through others, we have a better chance of leading others in God's way.

PRAYER

All-wise and knowing God, I pray that you would lead me to the place where I can receive

correction from you and from the people whom you send to cross my path. Help me be open to

the corrections that I need to hear and to implement in my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen. Here is

my prayer from Psalm 139:

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.