Going Out and Coming In

Some of the loveliest words in the Bible are found in Psalm 139.  They remind us that God is familiar with all our “goings out and comings in.”  I’m going to read a little longer set of verses for us today – and comment a little less – because these words are so comforting and strengthening for us.

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.

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.

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.

Psalm 139:1-10

We're grateful God for Your desire to know us and to accompany us every step of our journey every day.  We hardly know ourselves some days but You know us, know what's going to happen, how we're going to respond, where we feel strong or weak and vulnerable.  You are right ready to be with us with everything we need to make a success of each day.

Obviously there are some of our ways that we'd rather You weren't all that familiar with but we're grateful that for those things we have the forgiveness that Jesus won for us on the cross and we have Your Holy Spirit living in us to make us conscious when we are going astray and to keep us strong as we listen to You and seek to follow Your direction.

There are difficult times in all of our lives in every season.  But to know that You are there, that You know what is going on, that You care, and that You are ready to give us what we need in every kind of situation – well that’s enough for us. Amen

Today is a great day to live in the knowledge that God is with us - arrived here before we got here and will go with us wherever we go. Wherever you are today, I hope you will have a wonderful day in the presence of God.