Psalm 139

At the Beginning of Prayer When Strangers meet for the first time they are naturally guarded in how they reveal themselves. An atmosphere of trust is yet to be built. Certainly there are many things that one keeps hidden, especially things one is not proud of.  So on the surface a dialogue begins as they explore the degree to which they will be open to each other. This is no less true of how people often approach personal and meditative prayer. We feel the need to appear pious and spiritual; using the language of form prayers and various religious conventions. Believing we must impress, we take the role of initiator of the direction this prayer time will take. It's the head that gets a workout while keeping well-hidden things we believe would invalidate the very integrity of our praying. But all the while, as this struggle to get a good start at prayer unfolds, He waits - waits with loving patience for an opening to take his part. As the one praying approaches "in fear and trembling", (burdened with the expectancy of devotional correctness. Lk. 10:41) the Lord awaits to take him/her up into his arms with loving tenderness. May I suggest that one begins with a careful and audible reading of Psalm 139.

Psalm 139 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. 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.

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