Psalm 139 Devotional

I hope this short Psalm 139 Devotional brings encouragement to you!

Do you ever find yourself consumed with dwelling on the attitude, responses, or interactions of another person, and you just can’t get away from attempting to dissect the relationship? I found myself here recently, and then this realization came to me…

I’m focused on them, and He’s focused on me.

This one thought alone completely shifted my focus. As consumed as I can get with focusing on others, God is even more focused on my heart, my attitude, and my holiness.

Psalm 139:1-3

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.

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Psalm 139 Devotional: Fully Known.

Psalm 139 tells us God knows us. Inside and out, there is nothing hidden from God. That hurt or concern you can’t seem to get over and are borderline obsessed over; He knows. More than that, God deeply cares.

Don’t let the distraction keep you from the knowledge and truth of God’s deep care for you.

There’s not a detail, thought, hurt, pain, or action we have ever experienced that God does not know about and cares to be everything to us in our need.

It goes on to say in Psalm 139:4-6

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.

Have you ever thought about the meaning of Psalm 139:5, “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”?

Psalm 139: Fully Secure.

Sometimes it can be easy to think we are alone in our pain, or that what we are going through is our private burden to bear alone. But that is not what Psalm 139 tells us.

Our entire life, from all sides, beginning to end, is solidly secure, guarded, and protected by the Lord. He is intricately involved in every single detail and it is the Lord that keeps us tightly secure. 

Verse 5 continues, “you lay your hand upon me.” God’s divine hand is upon us. 

How does this impact your thinking? Your way of life? It surely is too wonderful to fathom!

The NLT translation is “You place your hand of blessing on my head.”

There is not a single step we can take outside of His grip. Are you living today with the knowledge of your security in God and His hand of blessing upon your head?

Do you believe His hand of blessing is upon you?

The Lord is relentless in His pursuit of us, and He continually calls us to turn our hearts and faces to Him. This rescue mission of our hearts did not stop at conversion.

He’s deliberate and unwavering when it comes to us. Nothing will stop Him from pursuing the continual transformation of our hearts and calling us to Him. Psalm 139 tells us we are intricately known and cared for by God. We are fully known, and He’s got us securely within His grip with His hand of blessing upon us.

Reflection of Psalm 139

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10

This Psalm 139 reflection leads me to wonder, isn’t it interesting when we are comforted by His grip and find security there, but other times we try to wiggle out and act like our “independence” is the answer? I’m so guilty of this.

We may think holding on tightly to our own agendas will be more profitable and beneficial than holding on to Him. What a bag of lies we fall for when we think we know better!

Psalm 139 tells us there’s no escaping Him.

Related: Psalm 91 Devotional

Psalm 139 Devotional: Fully Present.

God is always there, and there is no place we can ever get away from Him. In the good times, the bad times, the times we desire Him to be near, and the times we act like we can handle life on our own. He is fully present and will never leave us.

God is fully present and will guide each of our steps.

We can certainly keep walking the path we think we know is best and do what we’ve been doing, or we can soak up and savor the nearness and presence of God.

God’s beckoning never ceases.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

We are greatly loved. No one can know us, keep us, and be with us always like God.

The reshaping into His image continues. He’s in the transformation business, and it’s round the clock 24/7. The daily work of the Holy Spirit doesn’t stop.

So, my friend, let’s meet Him today.

Let’s put all our weaknesses and challenges back in His hands where they belong. Let’s get cozied and sheltered within His grip, protected from the elements.

Our willing Protector and Shield is always worth the submission of our complete selves.

That’s where we trade working for worship, and it is the most sacred place we could be.

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.” Psalm‬ ‭96:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I hope this Psalm 139 Devotional brought encouragement to you. If you would like more devotions from the book of Psalms, I highly recommend In the Lord I Take Refuge! It includes 150 daily devotions that are gospel-centered and help redirect our hearts to our one and only true Refuge.

What is the significance of Psalm 139 to your daily life? Is there anything that needs to be submitted to Him today?

Psalm 139 Bible Study Questions:

• How has the Lord used Psalm 139 to minister to your heart today?
• What does Psalm 139 teach you about God?
• How does understanding that God fully knows you influence your thoughts and actions?
• What does being hemmed in before and behind mean?
• What area of life do you recognize God’s involvement? 
• From Psalm 139, in what ways can you meditate on God’s character?
• How does Psalm 139 challenge, invoke wonder, or amaze you about God?

Related: Best Women’s Devotionals