Youth · Day 1 of 7
Fully Known
Read: Psalm 139:1-18 (KJV)
1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Most of us spend a lot of energy managing what people know about us. We show the good angles and hide the rest. David says God has already searched him and known him completely. God knows when you sit down and when you get up, what you are thinking before you say it, and every place you could ever go. At first that might sound uncomfortable. But keep reading. God does not know you so He can catch you. He knows you because He made you. 'Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.' Every detail of who you are was designed with care before you took your first breath. David responds, 'I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.' That is not arrogance. It is worship. When you look in the mirror and only see flaws, or compare your body, your face, or your personality to someone on your screen, remember who did the creating. God does not make mistakes. His thoughts toward you outnumber the sand. You are never off His mind. If you are struggling to believe you have any worth at all, please talk with a parent, pastor, or trusted adult. You do not have to carry those feelings alone.
Key verse
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
Journal it
- Which part of this psalm is hardest for you to believe about yourself? Why?
- What is something about yourself you have been critical of? How does verse 14 speak to it?
- How does it feel to know that God fully knows you and still loves you?
Write your answers in a notebook or the notes app on your phone.