Welcome to the "Moment with God" archives. Here you will find previous meditations for you to reflect on.
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TAKE A MOMENT
Recently I took a few moments to reflect on Psalm 139. The follow is my personal, devotional paraphrase of the Psalm that I wrote as in response to that reflection.
Today, take a moment and allow yourself to be quiet
Reflect on one of your favorite Psalms
Then, write your own paraphase.
Here is my Psalm 139 paraphase .....
January 18, 2009
Debra L. Brown
The Object of His Love
A Personal, Devotional Paraphrase of Psalm 139
You know my heart – You have searched me – You have gone the distance –taken the initiative – and therefore You know me.
You know what I think–You know what motivates me to action and contemplation because You know my every thought.
You know what I do - what my habits are – You are very familiar with my ways – the ways in which I move through life – from my active and social times to my quiet, somber and restful times – You know me well enough to discern my every habit. You know me better than I know myself!
You know what I will say – all of it – before I even say it – every word of it!
Even though You know me – You love me. I know this because Your hand of love and protection surrounds and covers me – You know everything about me – heart, mind, body and soul and yet You still love me that much.
I don’t get it. This concept is impossible for me to grasp.
I don’t know if I can take so close a relationship – it scares me – I want to hide – but there is no place to hide from You. There is nowhere in the highest heavens or the lowest depths to hide – You are everywhere.
I can’t get up early and try to fly away. It doesn’t matter how far I travel. It doesn’t matter where or when I go anywhere. You will still be there with me, guiding me, holding me tightly.
I can’t use darkness as a cloak – the light of Your presence just melts the darkness away. You will still see all of me – my heart, my thoughts, my actions, my words. And I will still be the object of Your love.
You made me – I am Your creation – not some random grouping of cells and DNA – I have a soul – an innermost being – that only You could make - You gave me my mother – I am no one else’s daughter – I came from her because you placed me – heart, mind, body and soul - within her.
I am unique – tenderly planted and watered from conception – created as others, yet different from them all – I am Your wonderful work – from the depths of my soul, I know that. I know that I am Yours and for that reason alone I am wonderful. What a wonderful thing You have done!
I am in Your book. Somewhere in Your book there is a chapter about me – written when I was only a thought in Your mind’s eye. You knew what I would look like – I was not a surprise or a secret to You – You thought of me, wrote of me, planned my days for me - and then you knit me together like a perfectly fitting garment – exactly matching the vision You had of and for me.
You are always thinking precious thoughts about me. Not negative thoughts. Not thoughts of disappointment. Not thoughts of anger. Just precious thoughts!
You never stop thinking about me. You think more about me that I do! Even when I am sound asleep, resting my mind – You are still thinking about me. I couldn’t even begin to count the thoughts you have of me. There are not enough numbers!
You are so grand. And, You are so good. You are the creator who knows everything. You write it all down in Your book. You can do all of this – so why don’t You stop evil? I am the object of Your love - why don’t You keep evil away from me? Why did You include those stories in the pages of Your book? They are Your enemies. They intend to harm You. They lie about You – hate You – speak lies in Your name.
I hate them! I abhor them! They are my sworn enemies – all I feel for them is hated. They hate You so I hate them.
I wonder what You think of them? You created them too. Are they the objects of Your love? Do You love them in spite of their failings – as you do me? Must I love what You love? Must I love an enemy? This kind of thinking makes me anxious.
I want you to search deeper inside me. No more trying to run and hide. I want You to know my heart – I want You to examine every part of me. Examine these disquieting thoughts I have. If my way of thinking and being is taking me in the wrong direction, lead me in the right one – always lead me in the right way. May I live my days – heart, mind, body and spirit according to the vision You had for me – the one You wrote in Your book.
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Psalm 139 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. 19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. 20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
(NKJ Version)
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