17 How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with Thee. 19 O that Thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. 20 For they speak against Thee wickedly, And Thine enemies take Thy name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate Thee, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against Thee? 22 I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

This article is being written while we are on vacation (family reunion) on the Gulf Coast in south Alabama. The sand is everywhere, including in the house. It is hard to imagine anything being more vast than the sand on the beach and in the ocean. Yet, this is the figure used by the Psalmist to describe the number of thoughts toward each of us in the mind of God. This is describing how God is so concerned about us and how much he wants to be our helper. As a parent and a grandparent it is easy to understand how God who made us is so concerned about us. While this does not mean we will never face problems or that he will take them away when they do come, it does mean that he will provide a solution for each of them. In fact, in God’s wisdom, it is the problems of life that make us strong and build our faith. We realize that God provides the strength when we trust him and this aids us in the next encounter.

How do we feel about inviting God to search our heart, to try us and test us? Whether we invite him to do this or not, he knows what is in our minds. He knows what we are facing both in our minds and in reality. It is so easy for us to believe that God knows our thoughts and to confess that he knows what is best for us but it is another thing entirely to actually turn our lives over to him. What a wonderful thing to know that we serve a God who loves us and20cares for us. Jesus is our High Priest who has been tempted and tested just as we are and he without giving in to any sin. What a savior!

O God, please fill me with your Spirit so that I may learn to love you and to love all those around me. Please help me to know the peace that only you can give and the assurance that comes from knowing you. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we submit to his will today.