Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 139:1-6
Ps 139:1-6
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.
Matt 6:7-8
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
On several occasions, it is said of Jesus that he knew the thoughts of those who were in his audience. He even answered questions that they were thinking but had never asked. At times we may know what someone is thinking by the look on their face or the way they are acting but that is not the same. When the Pharisees or his apostles talked among themselves about something, he would know and give an answer to them. Jesus really does know what is on our minds.
When we are thinking evil thoughts, God knows. When we are filled with fear or doubt, he knows what is troubling us or why we are afraid. His assessment is always right because he also knows the motives behind our thoughts. We may deceive ourselves or we may be making decisions based on false information but God is never fooled or mistaken. He has searched us and he knows us.
The other side of this is that he knows our hearts as well as our minds. He knows when we are struggling to get rid of the fear and when we are seeking to rid our hearts of any doubt. God understands how many times we have given our burdens to him but somehow reclaim them as our own. Just as we allow our child to fall when learning to walk or to ride a bicycle, for our own good, he will let us fall at times but he is always near and will always pick us up. He has promised to never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. He knows our battles in life and when we trust him, he will give us strength to overcome.
O Lord God it is such a comfort and a joy to know that you know me even better than I know myself. I know that in Jesus I can have a peace of mind that is not possible any other way. In my greatest strength, I am weak. In my very best moment, I have sinned and ruined my relationship with you. So to know that you have forgiven me and that you are always near me is joy beyond compare. Lord, help me use all I have and all I am to your glory. Use me to help others and to share your comfort and your love with them. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
