How Precious You Are

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them." Ps. 139:17

I love Psalm 139! It reminds me of the intimate relationship the Lord has with me.
I will never forget the first time I heard someone quote this entire chapter from memory. Yes, ladies - the entire chapter! It was the week of our appointment for the IMB. Bobbi Rankin, the wife of the then president of the Mission Board, spoke very briefly and ended by quoting Psalm 139 in its entirety. I remember thinking that although these men and women who stood before us longed to give us encouragement as new missionaries, it was the word of God that truly took away any fear(s) that my heart still clung to at that moment.

The future was so unknown to me - going to a place I had never heard of before - and could hardly pronounce!  Being obedient and packing up our three children - trusting that God knew each of us by name stirred up courage I did not have on my own. "You hem me in -behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me(4)." I was willing to trust that his presence and protection was the same in a far away, unknown place as it was in a small comfortable town in Oklahoma.

The 2nd time this chapter collided with my heart was when I attended a prayer advocate meeting in Barbados. I had risen early to walk to the cliffs to see the beautiful sunrise over the ocean. I longed for time alone with God. I quietly crept out of bed and made my way to the cliffs. The morning sunrise was always so magnificent. Standing on the edge of the cliff, with a vast ocean before me, listening to the powerful waves crashing against the rocks below, my eyes gazed upon the first glimpse of sun ray breaking through the darkness. Psalm 139 came flooding over my heart. The following portion of this chapter burst forth to my memory (that for sure was God!):

"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.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me," even the darkness
will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for the darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained
for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (9-16)

Such comfort washed over me at that moment! As I listened to the crashing waves "on the far side of the sea" it was as if God said out loud, "Gail, you are mine. I ordained your days." The God who knew me before I was even born and was familiar with all my ways was speaking to my heart.

God brought forth his word to my memory that early morning and worship in its purest form came flooding over my spirit.
Sometimes God seems far away. Circumstances can overshadow his presence if we allow them. Satan wants us to forget that we are God's creation!  Our weapon in the battle of our heart and mind is always the word of God.

Thank you Father that your word never changes.
May you be encouraged today remembering how precious You are to the Father!