I Am Fully Known (2/3)

You Know All My Thoughts

You discern my thoughts from afar. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. _{Psalm 139}

Research is done on a myriad of topics across the globe, so it probably won’t surprise you to hear that a university in Canada embarked on a project to find out how many thoughts a person has each day. The figure they arrived at was 6,000 and is based on being awake for 16 hours in the day ^{(Queens Gazette 13/5/20)}. If you don’t sleep much then that figure is going to be even higher!

Although the researchers could tell when one thought changed to another, they couldn’t tell what the thought was, ‘for who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?’ (1Cor2:11). Our thoughts are complexed, to say the least. They are happy, sad, positive, unhealthy, pure, cruel, uplifting, and every other descriptive word you can think of. ‘For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep’ (Ps64:6).

We know from other Psalms that David’s thoughts ranged from despair to elation, and I think the fact that God knew every one of them was an absolute relief to him. Our thoughts can often be so chaotic or troubled that we find it hard to form them into actual words. During these times it is comforting to have the Spirit within us, speaking on our behalf, and the word of God in front of us, bringing clarity and conviction.

The word of God is living and active, piercing through our very spirit, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. _{Hebrews 4:12}

The Lord knows every one of your thoughts; those that focus on Him and those that are far from him. Yet, His thoughts of you are constant and unchanging, full of compassion and steeped in grace. ‘How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand’ (v17,18).

Our thoughts are also vast, but the difference is, most are focused inward. Throughout the day, make a conscious effort to stop for a moment, and let your thoughts turn to the One who thinks of you always.