Jump Start # 1797

Psalms 139:17-18 ”How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.”

Our passage today comes from David. He was thinking about God. He was thinking about God often. The tone of this passage is that David was thinking about God when he went to sleep. When he woke up the next day, he was still thinking about God. He did not say, “When I awake, YOU are still with me.” Rather, “When I awake, I am still with YOU.”

The first chapter of Psalms shows us a man who meditates day and night upon the word of God. Thinking about God, that is more than just a pleasant concept, it is one key aspect of our walk with the Lord. Our thoughts are the source of our behavior and attitudes. It is from within, Jesus said in Mark 7, out of man that arises evil thoughts, adulteries and other corrupt things. Plainly put, what are we thinking about?

It is so easy to fill a day with thoughts of work, ballgames, what has to be done, and superficial things, that we don’t think about God. This can make a person feel distant from God and it can turn our walk with God into only thinking about Him when we need Him. When things are fine, we busy our selves with other thoughts, but when trouble arises, then we turn to God. Not thinking about God will have an impact upon our choices and attitudes throughout the day.

The Colossians were told to “set your mind on things above.” The Philippians were given a whole list of things to think about. The list included whatever is honorable, pure, lovely, and of good repute. When I awake, I am still with You. What a great thought! What a great way to begin the day. Starting with God will help you with your perspective and priorities. It will lead you to pray as the day begins. It will help you think of others who are in need of God and your help.

I am still with You—is a statement of faith and a declaration. It identifies and signals that a person remains with God. Some can’t say that. They are not with God any more. They have moved on and thus moved away from God. God stopped and they didn’t. God drew a line and they can’t. God and His word are interwoven and cannot be separated. There are some who want God, but not His word. There are those who believe that even God has moved on from what He said long ago. As society changes and accepts more and more things that are wrong, there are those who believe God does the same. The truth is, they are not still with God.

I am still with You—when it comes to following Your word

I am still with You– when it comes to understanding our role and purpose

I am still with You—when it comes to what you want the church to do

I am still with You– when it comes to the hope and promise You have made

I am still with You. That is so different than saying, You are with me. God doesn’t follow us, we follow Him. It is up to us to stay with Him. He is the chief shepherd and we are to follow Him. If you ever see a young family out taking a walk, you’ll notice, one child always wants to be the leader. Ahead of everyone else, goes that child. That’s some of us. We are not walking in the neighborhood, we are journeying through life. We want to be ahead of everyone else, including God, and be the first to accept, change, and make a difference. I am still with You, doesn’t fit in the agenda of trail blazers. They don’t want to walk along side, they must lead. Their way is THE way to go. When someone pulls back or challenges the direction they are going, then a real power struggle takes place. All of this is unnecessary. Just walk with God.

Enoch walked with God. David said, “I am still with You.” These thoughts are built upon trust and faith in God. He knows what’s best. I am still with You. He knows what needs to be done. I am still with You. He knows how to get there. I am still with You.

Thinking about God, last at night and first thing in the morning. Still with God, not just in thought, but in where I am going. These things will help you as you journey through today. There are some families who are facing some real challenges today. Keeping your thoughts with God and staying with God will make a difference for you. Prayers come easier and quicker when our thoughts and our walk is still with God.

I am still with You—that would not only be a great inscription upon a grave, but it makes a better motto in life.

Roger