We're surrounded by surveys.
Rate your phone call.
Rate your church experience.
Rate your doctor's visit.
John even got asked to rate his experience giving a urine sample. 😂
But what about the things that actually matter?
In this reflection on Psalm 36, John Ortberg gives us two surveys worth taking every day.
Survey #1: Is there anything in me that needs correcting?
Instead of reading about “the wicked” and immediately thinking about someone else, Psalm 36 invites us to look honestly at ourselves.
What am I seeing?
How am I speaking?
Where am I shading the truth?
What good am I failing to do?
Where are my thoughts taking me?
John compares this to surfing. His instructor repeatedly tells him:
“Look at the wave.”
If you don't pay attention to the wave, you won't know where it's taking you.
Our thoughts work the same way.
Then comes:
Survey #2: How good is God?
His love reaches to the heavens.
His faithfulness reaches to the skies.
His righteousness is like the highest mountains.
His justice is like the great deep.
How high do you rate God's goodness?
The numbers don't go high enough.
And if you want one final survey, John offers a little extra credit:
“When I survey the wondrous cross...”
Look honestly at yourself.
Look carefully at God.
Then look at the cross, where the fullness of His love and goodness is on display.
In this episode:
- Why we're living in “survey palooza”
- What the Psalms teach us about honest self-examination
- Psalm 36 and the human heart
- How to recognize what needs correcting
- Sins of omission
- Why our words become subtly deceitful
- The importance of listening
- John's surfing lesson: “Look at the wave”
- How to pay attention to your thoughts
- Measuring the goodness of God
- God's immeasurable love and faithfulness
- “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Scripture:
Psalm 36
#Psalm36 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #SelfExamination #Prayer #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #GodsLove #Faith
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00:00 The Only Surveys You Need Today
00:33 Welcome to Survey Palooza
00:54 John Gets Surveyed About a Urine Test
01:31 Are We Measuring What Really Matters?
01:54 The Psalms: Your Soul Book
02:24 Your Real Self Talking to the Real God
02:53 Psalm 36 & the Human Heart
03:26 Survey #1: What Needs Correcting?
03:39 What Does It Mean to Fear God?
04:27 Do You Flatter Yourself?
04:50 What Are Your Eyes Looking At?
05:12 Can You Detect Your Own Sin?
05:37 Are Your Words Completely Honest?
05:53 Sins of Omission
06:21 Happiness, Connection & Listening
06:43 Are You Rejecting What Is Wrong?
07:12 John's Surfing Lesson
07:38 Look at the Wave
07:52 Why You Have to Watch Your Thoughts
08:20 Survey #2: How Good Is God?
08:49 God's Love Is Off the Charts
09:10 God's Faithfulness, Righteousness & Justice
09:35 The Great Lake Tahoe Debate
10:03 God Cares for Every Living Creature
10:27 God's River of Delights
10:47 In Your Light We See Light
11:07 The Two Surveys
11:27 Extra Credit: Survey the Wondrous Cross
11:48 Nice Work
