Psalm 139 (NLT) For the choir director: A psalm of David, and a prayer of Mollie
The following is Psalm 139 with Mollie’s own prayer woven in. It invites the reader to consider how personal the Scriptures can be.
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
Lord, You know every detail about my life, even the parts that I don’t see or don’t want to. You know every motive of my heart and every thought of my mind. You perceive my emotions and make sense of my behaviors. What can I hide from you and what would I want to?
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
Even before I think, a thought, you know it full well. Your thoughts are too high for me, too lofty for me to attain. Yet, you transform me, sanctify, and make me holy.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
O Lord, where can I hide from you? You know when I am exhausted and when I am full of zeal. You foreknew every step and make straight the path before me. In every valley or mountain high, you will guide me through it all. You are in control of my coming out and my lying down.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
Even before I think the thoughts to create the words I say, you perceive them and understand them. You know every intent of every word and I commit them all to you.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
May your favor rest upon me. May you anoint each step as I do my best to follow you. Take me by the hand and guide me. Go before and behind me. Be my ever present help in trouble and victory in freedom.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
It is beyond me to understand your thoughts and your ways. Yet, through your gift of the Holy Spirit within me, you reveal to me the loftiness of your reasonings. Though I may not understand all your ways. I am learning to trust you more each day.
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
I am grateful that no matter where I am you are there. Even when I want to be alone in my shame, you remind me that You want to be there too.
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
No matter where my brokenness leads me, even there, you will meet me with a warm embrace. I can lean on and depend upon your strength to satisfy and uphold me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
Even when my sin weighs me down and I am ashamed, you make my night illuminate like the day. You say to me, “there is nothing to hide. I love you through and through, and I forgive every part of you.”
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
At times I question if I am indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. I look at my faults and weaknesses and am not filled with wonder. Instead I experience shame, guilt and doubt. Other times I think, how does a good God make me to be like this? Why do the dark parts of me exist? How can I control them? Alas, I cannot. Lord, you teach me that it is only through the submission to the Holy Spirit and His fruits that I can fully become all You have intended for me to become.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
I may not understand every facet of me, but you do. You call me wonderful and marvelous. Help me to embrace myself like you do. Grant me your eyes to see me how you see me.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
You fully know every detail of my past and future. Let me be caught up in the present moments with you. Fully trusting you with every part of my life.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
At times, it is hard to believe that one can have precious thoughts about me. Lord, help me to view myself as you view me. I am holy and worthy in your eyes.
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
LORD, I am grateful that my life is protected with you eternally. Help me to pray for those that are different from me or those that live their lives contrary to your plan.
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name,
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.
Yet you are a God of love. Yes, you are a jealous God, but you also give freedom of choice. Help me to understand more of how you see the world and love as you love.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
LORD, I surrender every thought, word and action to you. Show me the ways in me that you want to change and grant me the serenity to do so.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Show me the way to heaven and let me walk in those ways currently and forever more. Reveal to me all that you have for me and for you children. LORD, I want to know you more. I long to spend eternity with you. Come quickly, LORD, please come. Let my heart cry be, “MARANATHA” COME LORD COME!
About the Author
Mollie is married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.