Psalms 139:1-24 HCSB Lord , You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord . You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night” — even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You. For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You. God, if only You would kill the wicked — you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me — who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely. Lord , don’t I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You? I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
Staying In His Presence
Have you ever really thought about the fact that no matter where you go, you cannot escape from the presence of God because He is omnipresent? God is everywhere at the same time, all the time.
There are times we struggle with our flesh, with the trials that the world, and with our enemy Satan and his army of demons. At other times we may even find ourselves engaging and indulging in the desires of the flesh.
It's at those times that being in the presence of the Lord is the safest place to ever be.
Here is what David says in Psalm 139;
Psalms 139:8-9 HCSB If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,
That means that anywhere you go;
Psalms 139:5 HCSB You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.
There have been several times in my life that I have wandered away from His presence, and that is what the enemy wants you to do. It’s his strategy to isolate us from Him. But I am thankful to Jesus that He is a God who comes looking for the lost sheep. He even leave the other sheep to find you.
Matthew 18:12-14 HCSB What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Away from His presence, we are lost. However, when we repent and return to Him, He accepts us the way we are. The believer’s life is one of coming and running to Jesus again and again. Quickly repenting and returning to the presence of Jesus is a key of Christian life.
If you are feeling distant from God, make it a point to come close to Him and He will come close to you.
Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB)16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
James 4:6-8 HCSB But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! (emphasis mine).
Drawing near is a restoration of what we were designed to enjoy forever. God’s nearness is not out of reach. He is present right here and now.
Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Our responsibility is to draw near to Him in humility, prayer, and repentance … and God will reciprocate.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (HCSB)6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
Have you ever really thought about the fact that no matter where you go, you cannot escape from the presence of God because He is omnipresent? God is everywhere at the same time, all the time.
There are times we struggle with our flesh, with the trials that the world, and with our enemy Satan and his army of demons. At other times we may even find ourselves engaging and indulging in the desires of the flesh.
It's at those times that being in the presence of the Lord is the safest place to ever be.
Here is what David says in Psalm 139;
Psalms 139:8-9 HCSB If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,
That means that anywhere you go;
Psalms 139:5 HCSB You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.
There have been several times in my life that I have wandered away from His presence, and that is what the enemy wants you to do. It’s his strategy to isolate us from Him. But I am thankful to Jesus that He is a God who comes looking for the lost sheep. He even leave the other sheep to find you.
Matthew 18:12-14 HCSB What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Away from His presence, we are lost. However, when we repent and return to Him, He accepts us the way we are. The believer’s life is one of coming and running to Jesus again and again. Quickly repenting and returning to the presence of Jesus is a key of Christian life.
If you are feeling distant from God, make it a point to come close to Him and He will come close to you.
Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB)16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
James 4:6-8 HCSB But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! (emphasis mine).
Drawing near is a restoration of what we were designed to enjoy forever. God’s nearness is not out of reach. He is present right here and now.
Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Our responsibility is to draw near to Him in humility, prayer, and repentance … and God will reciprocate.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (HCSB)6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
RSS Feed