Ponder the goodness of God

November 9, 2007

By Dorothy Rugg

One of my favorite things to do is sit at the beach and gaze out at the waves and the sky. I feel the warmth of the sand between my toes, hear the crash of the waves upon the shore and the sounds of the seagulls, and smell the ocean breeze.

While I sit in my beach chair, I ponder the Word of God and the goodness of God. Have you ever taken a close look at the Psalms? They bring me hope, encouragement and peace. Lets take a look at Psalm 139:1-6:

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it” (NKJV).

These words are so comforting to me as they reassure me of God’s love for me. I can’t explain it, but God knows all about me. And not only me, but He also knows all about you.

Verses 17 and 18 say, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”

If you have ever sat on a beach and picked up a handful of sand and let it run through your fingers, you could never begin to count the grains. God’s thoughts toward us are more in number than the sand. How He cares for us; how He loves us!

Today, right where you are, know that the God of the universe is there for you. He knows each one of us individually. He longs for you and me to have a relationship with Him, to trust Him, and to rest assured He is always with us!

James and Dorothy Rugg pastor Mill City (Pa.) Assembly of God.