Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18


REACHING OUT IN THE DARKNESS

READ:
_Psalm 139:12
______________________________________________________________________________________

Our old dog__a West Highland white terrier__sleeps curled up at the foot of our bed. That's been her place for 13 years.

Normally she doesn't move or make a sound, but lately she's been pawing us gently in the middle of the night. At first we thought she wanted to go outside, so we tired to accommodate her. But we realized she just wants to know we are there. She's nearly deaf and partially blind now. She can't see in the darkness and can't hear us move or breath. Naturally, she gets confused and reaches out for reassurance. So I just reach down and pat her on the head to assure her that I'm there. That's all she wanted to know. She takes a turn or two, settles down, and goes back to sleep.

"Where can I flee from your presence?" David asked God (PS. 139:7). David took this as an immense comfort. "If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me," he noted. "Even the darkness will not be dark to you" (vv.9-12).

Lost in darkness? Grieving, fearful, guilty, doubting, discouraged? Not sure of God? The darkness is not dark to Him. Though unseen, He is at hand. He has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (HEB. 13:5). Reach out your hand for His . He is there. __________David Roper

**Lord, You promised never to leave us or forsake us.
We know Your word is true, but so often we see the obstacles
and the challenges and lose sight of You.
Help us today to see more of You and less of our problems.
_______________________________________________________________________
Dark fears flee in the light of God's presence.

**********************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 139:7-12*****************************
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from
your presence? 8 If I go up to the havens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If i rise
on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of
the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand
will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness
will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for
darkness is a light to you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In Psalm 139 David invites us to meditate on
who God is and how that affects us personally. David is perplexed
by God's omniscience__that He knows everything about him (vv.1-4).
He is assured by God's omnipresence__that He is ever-present and
will never leave or forsake him (vv.5-12). And he is overwhelmed by
His omnipotence_that He is the all-powerful creator who created
him (vv.13-18). In today's reading (vv.7-12). David speaks of a God who
is always there to lead, hold, and protect him. There is no place
where he is beyond His care, and even before he was conceived
God showed His love for him (vv.13-16). Mindful of all this, David
prayed a prayer of loyalty and commitment (vv. 23-24).