I saw this lone black sheep in a sea of white faces and felt an affiliation with him/her… like ‘am I the only odd one here’?
True or not? Even though I am sure many of us have asked this question from time to time for different reasons – I am assured by the following scripture of God knowing and understanding me in every circumstance either black or white at any given time.
Psalm 139 TLB
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. 3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. 4 You know what I am going to say before I even say it. 5 You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! 7 I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. 9 If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. 11 If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. 12 For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvellous—and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!
17-18 How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me.[a] And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, Lord! Away, bloodthirsty men! Begone! 20 They blaspheme your name and stand in arrogance against you—how silly can they be? 21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I be grieved with them? 22 Yes, I hate them, for your enemies are my enemies too.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. 24 Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
I love the song I shared at the beginning of this blog by Isreal Houghton where he says, ‘GOD KNOWS MY NAME’. He knows ‘ME’ and everything about me! How amazing!
This passage from the book of Psalms was written by King David and is a type of hymn.
When I was a teenager/young adult, many moons ago - my older sister who played a guitar and I would sing together, generally with a third person who played the piano. And we would be invited to sing at friends’ weddings and or other events. This scripture was one of the songs we sang and I still remember the tune in my head (harmony parts as well) when I read the words today.
‘..where can I go from your spirit, where can I flee from your presence, even there will your hand lead me and your right hand will hold me..’
(me in foreground, my older sister singing next to me and friend playing keyboard behind)
I have been involved in many opportunities to sing, share, speak and minister the word of God to others over the years and God has been very gracious in allowing me to experience praying for people to receive from the Lord and I am blessed for saying yes and participating in what God has done.
In the Passion Translation, verse fourteen says;
14 I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!
Everything you do is marvellously breathtaking.
It simply amazes me to think about it!
How thoroughly you know me, Lord!
What a heart of awe and wonder David has, that even as a King he is struck by Gods majesty. Then towards the end of the chapter he wants to get things into perspective with his Heavenly Father …
23 God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart.
Examine me through and through;
find out everything that may be hidden within me.
Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares.
24 See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on,
and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way—
the path that brings me back to you.
Lord Jesus, that is what we need most of all, for everything we are dealing with and going through to bring it all back to you. So I pray this for myself today, Lord that as you search my heart, bring it all out in the open so I may be in a right relationship with you to continue my journey in 2025 towards what you have designed for me to be doing for you.
AMEN
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