Wrapping up Psalm 139 today.

Have you ever thought about what goes on in the mind of God? I have. A lot actually, knowing I can’t know, but finding comfort in the fact that I am not all knowing, but that the God I serve is. As the verses below show, His thoughs are immeasurable. Thoughts about all of us. The great comfort for me is in the realization that thoughts of me are always with Him.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

All of us at some point have faced what the verses below speak about. Wickedness. Gossiping. Slander. Hate. A desire, a need for justice. As has God, more than we can imagine. As believers, it is easy for us to have anger against those who speak out against God or lie about Him in an effort to undermine his reputation, to destroy the relationships He has with believers. We see those perpetrators as our enemies. The words in scripture are proof of the emotional reaction mankind has to hardships. A reminder that we are not alone in the negativity we sometimes deal with.

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

In response to our reactions, God shows us the best way to deal with them. Seek Him, ask Him to search us, our hearts, our thoughts. Determine the things we hold onto that are robbing us of peace, and then ask to be led in the way pleasing to Him, to be shown His Way, which is everlasting.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Additional scripture verses to keep in mind:

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” – Romans 12:18-20 (ESV)

Until next time, blessings to you, my friends! – Vicki

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Note: If you weren’t aware of the meaning of ‘heaping burning coals’, it is not a form of punishment. Those people repentant of their sins and full of shame would wear containers of burning coals on their heads to show they were aware of, and ashamed of, their sin.