Did things go differently than you expected this year? Did life take a turn into a new season for you? Are you in the middle of one, not knowing its outcome? Does that feel unsettling?
Me too, on multiple fronts.
Many days this year, the Lord has taken me back to Psalm 139. This week, let’s sing it so we remember God’s Word to us about His plan for our lives. Have you ever memorized Scripture by singing it? For me, this Psalm-song is powerfully settling in unsettled times. Let’s pray to Him together with a praise interruption, through Scripture and song.
Lord, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made
All that I am I owe to thee,
thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me.
I give my Maker thankful praise,
whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
(“All that I am I owe to thee,” The Psalter, 1912)
Although my body is outwardly decaying, You made me as Your unique design. I am Your crafted work of shimmering art, perfectly knit and purled into body, mind, and soul that lives to praise You. I’m not even aware of the ways You are sustaining each strand of DNA within every day. Creator God, when I glimpse a fraction of Your ordered wisdom in birthing me into existence and re-birthing me into Your kingdom, I’m in awe of Your amazing work of sustaining grace. Thank You, Lord.
Lord, I praise You for Your perfect plan for my life
Ere into being I was brought,
thine eye did see, and in thy thought
my life in all its perfect plan
was ordered ere my days began.
(“All that I am I owe to thee,” The Psalter, 1912)
I belong here, in the exact way today is unfolding. Even though this season is hard and filled with unknown, each day of it is known to You. You know each day’s plan, because it’s in Your planner book that existed before You even created me. You birthed me into this very time and place and course of life events. That brings me so much comfort because You are my heavenly Father, holy, perfect, wise, powerful, good, sovereign, and always loving. Thank You, Lord.
Lord, I praise You for Your infinite wisdom and intimate presence with me
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
more precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
awaking I am still with thee.
(“All that I am I owe to thee,” The Psalter, 1912)
You are LORD of heaven and earth. In Your infinite wisdom, Your thoughts have created and held together the entire universe, its historical and future events, and its people You created. From before there was time, You existed. You are fully executing Your grand kingdom narrative as we await the final chapter of Your book. We can’t comprehend Your thoughts, but they are so precious to us because You’ve blessed us with Your intimate and continual presence. “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me” (Ps. 139:5). Thank You, Lord.
Lord, I praise You for Your kingdom purpose for me right now
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain (Ps. 139:20 ESV).
The wicked thou wilt surely slay;
from me let sinners turn away.
They speak against the name divine;
I count God’s enemies as mine.
(“All that I am I owe to thee,” The Psalter, 1912)
Father, those who are not in Christ Jesus do not honor Your name. So many speak against You or just ignore You. Your righteous judgment is upon them. They will die eternally separated from You, as they currently desire. We see Romans 1 all around us right now. So Lord, in this season, please use me to share the gospel with those who need You. This very unsettled season of challenge could be Your planned-out, unique context for the way You wonderfully designed for me to share Jesus. Quicken my heart to see Your kingdom purpose in my suffering and help me to see Your enemies with Your eyes of love as those who need Jesus. Thank You, Lord.
Lord, I praise You for knowing me and leading me in Your way
Search me, O God, my heart discern;
try me, my inmost thought to learn;
and lead me, if in sin I stray,
to choose the everlasting way.
(“All that I am I owe to thee,” The Psalter, 1912)
Holy God, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether” (Ps. 139:3-4 ESV). Please soften my heart to any sin right now. Search me, O God. It is not Your good, wonderful, best way for me. Lead me, Lord, one step at a time and, by Your Spirit’s presence in me as Your child (Ps. 139:7-10), illuminate Your Word to me. Lead me into repentance of my sin and fill my thoughts with Your healing Word. Lord, I thank You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made to uniquely praise You as You lead me through this hard season. Please help me to praise You today and every day. In the name of the One who IS the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life everlasting, amen.
A playlist to praise the Lord, today and every day
This week’s playlist brings Psalm 139 into our hearts and minds in several musical settings. In the other varied songs, we praise God for all of the beautiful reasons Psalm 139 gives to us. Let’s lift our voices to the Lord in song during this hard, unsettling season. As we sing, let’s look forward expectantly, with settled trust and hope to what He will do as He answers our prayer-songs! Sign up here if you’d like to receive my weekly, professionally curated playlists to accompany these writings. I’m praying the music blesses you richly as you sing Scripture and its truth back to the Lord.
