Multiplied Thoughts

“I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

Blessed is the man who makes
    the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told…

I have told the glad news of deliverance
    in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation…

But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
    say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’
As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God!” Psalm 40:1-5,9-10,16-17

“O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!” Psalm 92:5

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

We read God’s words and try to understand His ways. We see His action in creation and history and the lives of men. We seek His wisdom, His will, His direction. But do we stop and think about His thoughts? What does it mean that the Lord takes thought for us, and what difference does this make?

First of all, our Lord is not capricious in His dealings with man and nature, but thoughtful. He intentionally orders and controls all that occurs in perfect sovereignty, and within the bounds of His perfect plans and knowledge. (Isaiah 14:24; 1 Corinthians 14:33)

Secondly, He thinks about us. He who made man in His image for relationship with Himself continues that relationship. He knows our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts, He considers our ways, He weeps when we weep and rejoices over us with singing. He is intimately involved in all our goings and comings and the meanderings of our souls. He loves us, and His affection set upon us means He never lets us out of His sight or mind. And He is never confused! We cry with the psalmist, how vast are His thoughts! (Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Psalm 38:9; Isaiah 49:15; Zephaniah 3:17)

Since His thoughts are vast and deep, will I stretch mine of Him high and wide? His thoughts toward me are many; what can I do to multiply mine toward Him, and His? How deliberate am I to take thought of my LORD, my King, my Savior? Do I regularly recall with praise His goodness and deliverance and help? Do I tell of His blessings and favor, His intervention and advocacy? Do I consider how He has led in the past in contemplating how to go forward?

Lord, may I never cease to explore, and trust, and delight in Your every thought. Shape my thinking to be like Yours.