Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ps 139:23–24.
The Holy Spirit knows us. He knows what we give and what we hold back. In our own mind we argue that we have given everything to God. Well, there is that one small insignificant thing but it shouldn’t have any effect on our relationship with Him. As our mind justifies the need to withhold this self-determined insignificant thing the Spirit prods us like a small child tugging at our pants leg. He knows.
We must ask God to search us and identify those things which we have hidden away, small or not. Once God shows us what remains we must choose to hand it over or continue to argue our case, which we will never win, by the way. It’s like that small piece of gravel wedged in the threshhold that prevents the door from latching. Smooth operation requires the freedom of hindrances. We must give over that last holdout in order to experience true joy.