<b>God The Encourager</b>

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An exposition on Psalm 139:1-3, 5-18 by Mike Wells

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<b>Verses 1-3:</b> <i>O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.</i>

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In times of depression or trials I find these words great comfort. It is

good to know that wherever I am, whatever I am going through, He is there

with me. Sometimes, though, it is difficult to feel His presence. Sometimes

I feel alone and abandoned. Yet I know that God is there. Romans 8:39 says,

<i>"neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will separate

us from the love of God."</i> It is funny that no matter what we do we cannot run from the love of God. He is always there ahead of us waiting with open arms.

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<b>Verses 139:5-12:</b> <i>Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.</i>

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There are times when our circumstances seem to get us completely down. We

feel like worthless human beings with nothing to offer society anymore. God's Word contradicts these feelings. Although it is natural to have these

feelings from time to time, we need to realize that we were created in God's

image (Genesis 1:27). Read below for further proof.

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<b>Verses 139:13-16:</b> <i>For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.</i>

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God planned your life! Did you know that? What is that plan for your life?

It starts with relationships. What is your relationship with the Father?

Have you prayed? Have you talked to Him lately? Have you thanked Him for who

He is? The way to find and accept the love of the Father is to accept the

love of His Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for your sins. He rose from

the dead, breaking the curse of death. Anyone who confesses their sin to

Jesus and accepts Him as leader of their life will be forgiven and have

eternal life. If you have already done this then you are a minister. How is

that, you ask? You minister by praying for others, by listening to them, by

doing a thoughtful deed. This is what we were created for: to be in

relationship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and our fellow man.

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<b>Verses 139:17-18:</b> <How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.</i>

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God is thinking of you. He has wonderful thoughts about you. How do I know

this? Because nothing evil can be around God. He has nothing but good

thoughts. I do not know about you but I sleep better at night knowing that

God is pleased with me. Can you picture God waiting at your bedside as you

arise in the morning or wake in the night? Yet these verses say there He is.

I almost picture Him in a rocking chair waiting for my peepers to open. Kind

of nice to know that someone is there with me all night long. What peace

this knowledge gives me!

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God knows where we are, what we are facing. No matter how hard we try we

cannot run from His love. He is always ahead of us. We are made in His image

and he planned each day of our lives before we even began them. He created

us for relationships. He has good thoughts of us and waits for us to

respond to Him. Won't you talk to Him next time you wake up or are unable to

sleep?