Behind the act of self-examination is wisdom. It’s not easy looking within myself. No, my carnal instinct cries out against seeing my innermost self.

But salvation teaches me it’s wise to uncover my good and evil motives.

Apostle Paul disclosed to the Corinthians the significance of self-examination.

Paul said:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

2 Corinthians 13:5

Paul starts by highlighting the need to do some soul-searching. He is straightforward and to the point. His emphasis is on faith and understanding that God places believers in Christ. And he ends with a warning.

Faith Examination

Let’s take a look at examining faith.

Christian faith is reliance on Jesus through trusting in God’s word. My eternal resting place depends on my devotion to Christ’s Deity (John 14:6). I must, without reservation, commit myself to the Lord.

Fear is one of the stumbling blocks to unlocking faith’s full power.

Yes, this four-letter word with one syllable prevents me from living with Christ. When I’m afraid, it signifies a lack of faith in God.

Fear stems out of pride. The moment my pride is threatened, it generates fear, and I react with anger. For example, when my ex-wife would criticize me about being fired from a job, the fear of failure cropped in, and I became resentful toward her. This reaction wasn’t anchored in Christian trust. No, this behavior is a sin and in direct opposition to God.

As noted above, self-centered fears block Jesus’s light and allow the darkness of sin to grow. Nothing spiritual comes from despair, for it robs my soul of hope.

Excessive worry indicates a life centered on self and not on Jesus. Worrying consumes the mind with thoughts of anxiety. It has a devastating effect on my heart, causing an unceasing feeling within my conscience. And it stops my faith from blossoming. Christ preached on the fruitlessness of worry (Matthew 6:25-34).

Doubt symbolizes misgiving in God’s omnipotence. It produces skepticism leaving me without the whole armor of Christ’s mighty strength (Ephesians 6:11-17). And defenselessness against the devil’s schemes means disaster.

Building a Stronger Faith

On the other hand, faith examination includes building a stronger faith. One of the best blueprints for growing trust in Christ came from Disciple Peter.

Peter unveiled this:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NASB)

Peter lays out seven spiritual principles that grow an unshakable faith. These incredible virtues build robust protection against Satan’s attack on my relationship with Jesus. When I practice them, they make Lucifer flee.

Peter tells us to begin with the action of diligence. In other words, I must pay careful attention to these seven attributes, which require observing my behaviors. They are the measuring stick to show me where I need to improve on demonstrating their dominance in my walk with Christ.

Peter tells us that by adding them to our faith, we gain Jesus’s wisdom.

He spoke these words:

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

We gain Christ’s wisdom by putting these seven holy characteristics into our daily lives. Those crucial spiritual attitudes allow others to witness Jesus working through us. They highlight a life blessed by God and embedded in the Holy Spirit. This radiates godly integrity, where standing firm on God’s truth keeps me on the narrow road.

Final Thoughts

This is a small overview of self-examination. In reality, there are many other ways to take inventory of our faith. For instance, Christ’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7) is an excellent way to look at our faith.

How do you examine yourself?