September 18th
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 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. Psalm 139:1-18 NIV
In this psalm David paints a very personal picture of God, who is intimately acquainted with everything about us. He made us and loves us as a perfect parent loves his or her child. He has wonderful thoughts toward us and has good plans for our lives.
We may not realize it, but God sees everything we do in “secret.” Even though he knows all of our faults, God still loves us and stands ready to help us break free of addiction. Even in the depths of sex addiction, God will reach out to help us if we call on him. Sometimes people allow thoughts of condemnation to keep them from asking God for help. They think God is angry with them and is ready to punish them. Often they feel unworthy of his love especially if they’ve fallen many times before. We need not let any condemnation or guilt keep us from returning to God in repentance from our sin. We have the assurance of forgiveness from the Father, because Jesus bore ALL of our punishment on the cross. God is not angry with us, but rather, he is waiting for us to return home to him, just as the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).
God wants to develop a relationship with you. He is not interested in religious devotion or an outward form of worship based on tradition. He wants a relationship with you characterized by love, passion, intimacy and kindness. If you answer his call to you, you will find that nothing on this earth can compare to knowing him. Please remember that nothing can separate you from God’s love. Consider what Paul wrote in Romans:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV
For guidance on getting back on track in your relationship with God, please check out our online study Freedom Journey.
Questions for further thought:
Often our earthly parents affect our perception of God. How did your parents affect your perception of God?
Why do some people settle for an outward form of religion instead of a heart-to-heart relationship with God?
In what ways has God proven his love for you? (Romans 5:1,8, Psalm 103:2-5)
Considering God wants a relationship with us, how can God relate to what it is like to be human? (Hebrews 2:14-18)
Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I am amazed by your great love for me! Thank you for redeeming me from destruction, healing my diseases, forgiving my sins and crowning me with loving-kindness and tender mercies. I open my heart fully to you today. Please heal me from any relationships or experiences that have damaged my ability to connect with you. Please teach me how to have a relationship with you on a heart-to-heart level. Lord, I want to embark on your good plans for my life. I yield control of my life to you, so that I may do your will here on earth. Thank you, Father! I praise you and bless your holy name. Amen.”