"How precious to me are Your thoughts God! How vast the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” (Psalm 139:17)
Today our go to place for information is Google. I use it all the time to learn things that would otherwise take me hours to figure out on my own. If I want to fix something on my car, Google will lead me to a video showing me step by step how it’s done. Maybe I want to learn a new skill like doing trick shots with a Yo-Yo, or be able to speak fluently in a new language. Google will even enable me to do a virtual walk down the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe, finding places to eat before visiting Paris for real. As a search engine, we tell it what we need and it then provides options in order to direct us to the required solution. Such knowledge is super handy to have access to if you ask it the right questions.
However, what if you don’t know what to ask? Or if the solution given is to visit a doctor, to talk to someone, or to be brave? Suddenly we realise that although search engines are handy, they are no replacement for our need for God to be with us, personally present, understanding where we’re at and working on our behalf.
The bit we’re reading now, "How precious to me are Your thoughts God! How vast the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” is summing up all that has been said so far. God has searched our thoughts and seen our ways. He understands our motivations and can tell what we are going to say before we say it. God is close, aware of where we are located, guiding us and keeping us secure. Even when we feel hidden from Him and lost, He is close. He was there at our beginning. He knows the origins of our lives up to this point and sees how things will pan out in the days to come. So when He reveals His thoughts about you, He really knows what He’s talking about! If He were on a Mastermind quiz show, you would be His specialised subject!
It’s in moments when we feel weak that God wants to remind us that He is close and understands every detail of what we’re going through. He has the strength that we need in order to be brave. He sees the great things about us when we’re minded to put ourselves down or miss the significance of who we are. God is aware of all that complex stuff that goes on through our minds and He can lead us to talk to someone, giving them the wisdom we need for that moment.
I’m sure when you’ve sat on a beach you have never attempted to count the grains of sand. Even trying to count a handful would take some considerable time. God’s thoughts outnumber the sand, not a handful or a bucket load or even just one beach! We’re talking about more than a whole coast line! And do you know the most amazing thing?? All of these thoughts, countless as they are, they are all about you. It says “How precious to me…” but it also can mean “How precious concerning me are Your thoughts God.” “Okay Paul,” you say, “aren’t you over-egging this grain of sand thing? That is way too many thoughts to be just about me.” I don’t think so. He has numbered the hairs on your head! (Matthew 10:30). These are not just random thoughts either or useless facts! They are deep thoughts within the mind of God toward you, because He is concerned for your welfare and is working for Your good.
So as you invite God into your world, you can step confidently knowing that you are not in this alone. You can call to your loving Father God for help and as the best dad ever He is there with you. He believes in you, because He created you and knows how great you are!
Father God. I thank You that You are always with me. Thank You that You are always thinking of me with countless thoughts concerning me. Thank You that You love to make Your vast resources available to me when I’m searching for help. Even if all I need is someone to be with me, I know that You are here. I love You. In Jesus’ name.
This devotion, is an excerpt from the 40 day devotional for young people called "Finding Identity," based on Psalm 139. The book is available to purchase on Amazon.
_________ Sandcastles photo credit: Daiga Ellaby - Unsplash
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