I’ve recently had the pleasure of taking part in an awesome ladies Bible study at my church. It’s the Beth Moore study, “Stepping Up,” which goes through the Psalms of ascent. I’ve learned so much just about the history involved in these Psalms, but more than that, I’ve learned so much about God’s heart. He has used this study to teach me and draw me closer to Himself. It’s been an incredible journey! (and I’m sad to see it end next week).
One of the days this past week really hit me – particularly a Psalm that was referenced in the study time (but isn’t one of the actual Psalms of ascent). It’s Psalm 139. I ended up highlighting the entire Psalm in my Bible because I just couldn’t stop… it’s amazing.
What I love about God’s Word is it is a LIVING word. You can read something in the Word one day, and God can use it. Then you can read that same something weeks or months later and God can use it in a completely different way. This was one of those Psalms I’d heard and read many times before, but for some reason this last week it reached me much more deeply than it ever has…
I’ve pasted it in here (the NIV version) for you to read for yourself, but here are just a few things that jumped out at me:
- God is with us ALWAYS, even when we don’t want Him. There isn’t anywhere we could ever go that He isn’t there as well. We can never be separated from Him – and I’m SO thankful for that! (v. 5-12)
- God knows us COMPLETELY. No one on this planet will ever know us as well as He does. We don’t even know ourselves as well as He does. He’s known us since before we were born – and LOVED us just as long. (v. 1-4 & 13-16)
- We must always come clean with God. There isn’t anything about us He doesn’t already know, but He wants to be in RELATIONSHIP with us – and part of that is coming to Him and confessing or venting or just talking to Him about whatever’s on our heart. He already knows – He just wants us to share our heart with Him. Also, we should ask Him to reveal to us anything that we need to clean up in ourselves. He’ll show us and help us to become the person He meant for us to be. (v. 23-24)
With that… please read and enjoy… and may God speak to your heart, as He did mine.
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O 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.
Zack has had a fascination with weddings and marriage since he was in Uncle Jared and Aunt Laura's wedding back in May. The topic seems to come up at random intervals... including tonight during dinner. What follows is a little "transcript" of the conversation that went on between Zack and Daddy (because Mommy was having a hard time keeping a straight face...) And keep in mind, this came up out of the blue...
