Psalm 139: 16b-18
“In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.”
To acknowledge, Lord, that your thoughts are weighty and vast and endless would be, in itself, awe-inspiring and would be saying something amazing about your greatness.
BUT…to place that immediately after a statement about how you think about us—every single one of our days— well…. it just makes you so much more wonderful to me and it makes me feel so precious and special.
You have so many thoughts…and yet you are concerned with ME… with MY life! And because your thoughts are so weighty and carry so much importance, it just stuns me that I would be one you would give weight and energy to.
You don’t just love me… you know me.
You don’t just know who I am and that I exist…you have considered my life!
You have looked and thought about each day. You have loved me in each day; you have known how to direct me in each day. And you see THIS day and every day in my future. You are there. You’re ahead of me! You’re with me now. And you are thinking about me…and concerning yourself with me.
That is stunning.
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Do the thoughts I think show a similar kind of loving concern for you?
Am I turning my thoughts toward you?
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I’m afraid most of my thoughts are also directed toward me….and yet, not even always in a loving way toward myself. Sometimes my thoughts about myself attack who I am. Sometimes the thoughts in my mind are so selfish and so superficial…so limited in view…they don’t contribute anything to my becoming who you desire me to become.
My thoughts don’t match your thoughts. But what if they did?
What if my thoughts about me could match your thoughts about me? What if I could think more about you and concern myself with your beauty and who you are? What if I could be as interested in you as you are in me?
Well…I might look and sound more like Christ.
I’d be more at peace.
I’d be more humble.
I would be more courageous.
I would have bigger vision.
I would see beyond what is in front of me…see past obstacles…into the possibilities that exist in you.
I would have the strength to persevere.
I would be patient and always kind.
I would love.
No wonder you talk so much in your Word about the importance of our THOUGHTS.
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“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” ~Colossians 3:1-3
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And it’s not so much about me choosing just to think different thoughts… It’s me choosing to think of YOU…about who you are, about your love, your qualities, your characteristics. It’s me playing them over and over again in my head like a favorite song.
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“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things.” ~Philippians 4:8
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You are what is pure and lovely. You are what is true and honorable and just. You are what is excellent and you are worthy of praise!
And when I think on you, and play you over and over again in my head, then I’ll recognize you in others…and I will be drawn to beautiful, uplifting things that reflect you.
It all starts with you.
Everything.
All of us.
We start and end with you. There is nothing higher or more commendable than you.
“I come to the end—I am still with you.”
Let it be so with me. I love you.
