Reflection and Worship Day: Psalm 139
During this series, we will be exploring reasons we may feel distant from God. Seeing that this ministry is all about helping to create a connection with God, we wanted to take you through some different practices to help you explore your life and the things that hinder you from experiencing God’s presence in your life.
Each Wednesday, you will receive a scripture to read, a series of reflection questions, and a link to a worship song. Take time to read or listen through the scripture and note any key points that stick out to you. This is often how God speaks to us, so pay close attention and listen for those moments that make you excited, scared, convicted, or encouraged. The reflection questions supplied will guide you into a time of thinking about how and why it is important to seek God’s presence in our lives. And then finally there will be a link to a YouTube video with worship music. This is supplied to create time to pray and seek God. You can use your own music or sit in silence but be sure to close your time by asking God to draw near to you.
I pray that as you explore what it means to be close to God and why we sometimes feel distant, it creates a hunger for more of God’s presence in your life.
Psalm 139 (NIRV)
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away.
You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live.
Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.
You are all around me, behind me and in front of me. You hold me safe in your hand.
I’m amazed at how well you know me. It’s more than I can understand.
How can I get away from your Spirit? Where can I go to escape from you?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.
Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east. Suppose I travel to the west where it sinks into the ocean.
Your hand would always be there to guide me. Your right hand would still be holding me close.
Suppose I were to say, “I’m sure the darkness will hide me. The light around me will become as dark as night.”
Even that darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, because darkness is like light to you.
You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother’s body.
How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that.
What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.
None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother’s body.
That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth.
When you were putting me together there, your eyes saw my body even before it was formed.
You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.
God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up.
If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand.
If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.
God, I wish you would kill the people who are evil! I wish those murderers would get away from me!
They are your enemies. They misuse your name. They misuse it for their own evil purposes.
Lord, I really hate those who hate you! I really hate those who rise up against you!
I have nothing but hatred for them. I consider them to be my enemies.
God, see what is in my heart. Know what is there.
Test me. Know what I’m thinking.
See if there’s anything in my life you don’t like. Help me live in the way that is always right.
Reflection Questions
How does David, the writer of this Psalm, desire to draw even closer to God in his heart, mind, and life? Why would David ask God to test his heart? What could this testing reveal about any distance he may feel from God?
Worship Song
“Tend” by Emmy Rose, Bethel Music
Each Wednesday, you will receive a scripture to read, a series of reflection questions, and a link to a worship song. Take time to read or listen through the scripture and note any key points that stick out to you. This is often how God speaks to us, so pay close attention and listen for those moments that make you excited, scared, convicted, or encouraged. The reflection questions supplied will guide you into a time of thinking about how and why it is important to seek God’s presence in our lives. And then finally there will be a link to a YouTube video with worship music. This is supplied to create time to pray and seek God. You can use your own music or sit in silence but be sure to close your time by asking God to draw near to you.
I pray that as you explore what it means to be close to God and why we sometimes feel distant, it creates a hunger for more of God’s presence in your life.
Psalm 139 (NIRV)
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away.
You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live.
Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.
You are all around me, behind me and in front of me. You hold me safe in your hand.
I’m amazed at how well you know me. It’s more than I can understand.
How can I get away from your Spirit? Where can I go to escape from you?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.
Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east. Suppose I travel to the west where it sinks into the ocean.
Your hand would always be there to guide me. Your right hand would still be holding me close.
Suppose I were to say, “I’m sure the darkness will hide me. The light around me will become as dark as night.”
Even that darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, because darkness is like light to you.
You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother’s body.
How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that.
What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.
None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother’s body.
That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth.
When you were putting me together there, your eyes saw my body even before it was formed.
You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.
God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up.
If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand.
If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.
God, I wish you would kill the people who are evil! I wish those murderers would get away from me!
They are your enemies. They misuse your name. They misuse it for their own evil purposes.
Lord, I really hate those who hate you! I really hate those who rise up against you!
I have nothing but hatred for them. I consider them to be my enemies.
God, see what is in my heart. Know what is there.
Test me. Know what I’m thinking.
See if there’s anything in my life you don’t like. Help me live in the way that is always right.
Reflection Questions
How does David, the writer of this Psalm, desire to draw even closer to God in his heart, mind, and life? Why would David ask God to test his heart? What could this testing reveal about any distance he may feel from God?
Worship Song
“Tend” by Emmy Rose, Bethel Music
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