Psalm 139:1-4– You have searched me, Lord and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
I. To be truly know is truly
.
“…What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are—even if we tell it only to ourselves because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real thing.” —Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets
Psalm 139:5-6– You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me too lofty for me to attain.
II. To be fully known by God is to be fully
by him.
Psalm 139:7-12– Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
III. We find rest for our
when we rest in God’s love.
Matthew 11:28-30– “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Next Steps:
1. Create a “rest ritual”- a daily practice of coming to God, laying down your burdens, and consciously resting in His love. This could involve prayer, journaling, or silent meditation.
2. Set aside time each day this week to meditate on Psalm 139. As you do, consciously remind yourself that God knows you fully and loves you completely.
3. Fully embrace God’s love by accepting Jesus as Lord through the waters of Baptism. Use the connection card HERE to notify a pastor of your decision.