Our Psalm last week was Psalm 139. It’s one I’ve read/heard/recited many times but, as happens so often with the Bible, different words jumped out at me this time.
Here is the full 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, 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[b] 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.
I usually focus on these verses:
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.
Or, if I am feeling lost or alone, these verses comfort me:
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,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.
But last week, it was these words that jumped out at me:
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
It made me wonder if I ever have given thanks to God for making me who I am.
We spend so much time criticizing ourselves that we forget that we are part of God’s creation. In His eyes, we are perfectly made–human flaws and all.
Have you thanked God for your lovely voice, your contagious laughter, your warm heart, your strong shoulders, your muscular legs, your intellect, your compassion, your sense of humor, your way with words, your artistic talent?
Have you given thanks to God because you are wonderfully made?
I can not tell you how much I needed to read this, this morning. My eyes welled up when I read this. Thank you for sharing and reminding us, that we are all beautiful. I am so very grateful, grateful that God made me who I am and, grateful to find your words this morning. Thank you for putting them out there. A perfect way to start this day.
Thank you! Your comment means a lot to me.
Great post! Last night a friend/co-worker was calling herself stupid. I told her that I don't believe that. I reminded her Who made her and not to criticize God's wonderful creation. I hope I lifted her spirits and I spoke what He needed her to hear.
Good for you for speaking up and calling out her negative self-talk!
excellent post and I'm pretty good with knowing that I'm wonderfully made because He has a plan for me and He wouldn't have it any other way…I'm here…I'm His so that makes me 'wonderful'
Tara, it's so great that you are living with the knowledge in your heart!
Beautiful!
I have thanked God a lot lately, he is truly blessing me these days! I am experiencing first hand the extreme power of God's favor! and his plans for me!
I don't think I've ever really thought about it that way. I think this was timely for me. Thanks for the awareness.
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