‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

Isn’t it nice to be known, heard, seen, and loved by our Heavenly Father. We never have to wonder because it is written in Psalms that God knows each of us. He knows our hearts, minds and our character. 

Isn’t it nice to know that we are never alone. There is nowhere we can go that God can’t find us. It is comforting to have the guarantee that even when we falter, God is with us. When we experience joy, love or fear, sadness or jealousy, bitterness, God is with us.

Let’s testify to God’s goodness. Can you recall a time when you felt the presence of God? Bask in it, journal it, share it with a friend. There may be times in our fear, sadness, jealousy, or bitterness that we need to be reminded of the goodness of God.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for knowing me and loving me. Help me share Your goodness with others today. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

This week we will be sharing on Psalm 139. Today we encourage you to meditate on these verses. 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — 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. 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. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 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 and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for 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. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

@biblegateway

We encourage you to worship with the following songs.

Where Can I Go by Ellie Holcomb

Goodness of God by CeCe Winans

You Say by Lauren Daigle

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Join Deborah and I as we close out the week sharing on the importance of gratitude and finishing the year strong. When pursuing goals be reminded of AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination.

A quote by Jon Gordon; “When you start your day with GRATITUDE you create a fertile mind and heart that is ready for great things to happen. When you feel blessed, you can’t be stressed. Don’t worry about the day. Take it on with power and positivity.

For the last few days I have asked you to spend some time on self-examination. I pray you have reflected, refocused, and reset so you may finish the last 90 days of 2024 strong. 

Take some time to read this blog post titled How To Better Yourself: 15 Tips To Better Yourself Everyday by Elizabeth Perry.

Have you set a goal? Have you started some new routines? What will you do to keep growing closer to and more like Christ?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2024. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Philippians 2:3 NIV — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Julie and I usually refer to Thursdays as Thankful Thursday. Years ago, when my children were younger, we would take time on Thursdays to somehow thank someone for their presence in our lives. Sometimes we would simply write a thank you note. Other times we would take time to bake cookies or buy a small token of appreciation and deliver it on Thursday. This habit was a small gesture of thinking of others and practicing gratitude. Including today, there are 13 Thursdays left in 2024. What habit could you incorporate to show appreciation of others on Thankful Thursdays?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2024. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG — You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

We have started the last 90 days of 2024. Are you on the path to finish the year strong? How are you improving your mental, emotional, and spiritual life? Are you stepping out of your boat of comfort and taking steps to move closer to Christ? 

Take a few moments to read this article titled Self-Improvement, 1% At a Time by Duke Corporate Education. This article explains the “aggregate of marginal gains” theory. 

Spend some time examining yourself. What are you doing for the final push of the year to improve yourself and become 1% better each day?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2024. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.