Thoughts for the Day
Tuesday, 5th May 2020: God is always with us
Psalm 139 Heavenly Father Praise God Sheol
Reading : Verses friom Psalm 139
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely....
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol*, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast....
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
*place of the dead
(New Revised Standard Version)
Thoughts
The thoughts in Psalm 139 are wonderful. It's one of my very favourite psalms, and I often read it at the graveside when conducting burials. It reminds us that God is with us from the moment of conception to our grave. Not only that, but God has "searched us out" - or we might say, He has called us.
There should be no fear of God just because He has seen us at our worst. Of course He has, but He still loves us! Does a loving parent stop loving a child because they misbehave?
Unfortunately, all too often we forget that He is with us always, and we go our own sweet way!
Prayer
Father God,
we remember today that You are with us always,
and ask your forgiveness for the times that we have forgotten You.
Keep us especially close to you at this time
when life is so different,
and friends (and/or family) are far away.
Amen.
Psalm 139 reminds us that God is with us at all times, from birth to the grave, and that He searches us out.
- Look at Luke Chapter 15, verses 11-24. The story of the Lost Son shows us that the Father (who represents God) comes to meet the son before he even asks for his forgiveness. God is waiting patiently for us to repent and return to Him.
- You might like to look out old photographs representing your life. Gather about 10 together and put them up (on a door?) to remind you that God was with you during all the highs and lows of your life.