Psalm 139:11-13

New International Version (NIV): If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Directions:  Choose a translation of the Bible that you easily understand, but that has depth of meaning.  I recommend that you keep a special journal just for praying the Psalms.  Try praying the Psalms for yourself before reading my version of these verses.  The point of this method is for the Spirit to speak with your heart and that you will commune with God about how your own experience relates to His word.  I only include my sample to help you understand what I mean in the steps and because it is always good for Christians to share their thoughts about God and experiences with Him.

Step 1:  Choose a verse or two from one of the Psalms and write it out in a notebook. 

Step 2: After reading a thought from the verse, begin writing your own version of that thought.  This is not exactly paraphrasing the Psalmist’s words although you can paraphrase if you wish.  This is taking the thought and applying it to your own life and changing the words to fit your own experience.  Continue writing about your experience with God until you no longer have anything more to say.

Step 3:  Go to the next thought in the verse and repeat Step 2. 

Step 4:  Continue this process until you feel satisfied that you are finished or until the verse’s thoughts are finished.

My version (verses 11-13): 

I may feel hidden from You by the mass of humanity surrounding me, but You see me. I may think that the darkness of my life obscures Your view of the me that You love, but I am wrong. You are able to penetrate obscurity with acute vision that carries its own light. I don’t have to light my position for You to know where I am. You are constantly aware of me and my concerns. You see me even as You see in the opposite direction. There is no sneaking up on You as You look away because You never look away. Nothing and no one can block me from Your view or Your love. You even saw me inside my mother’s uterus. You have been part of my formation from the beginning. You know me at the deepest cellular level, my DNA, my firing neurons. I can hide nothing from You and nothing can hide me from You and that is precious because You are love through and through, so You look upon me with love. You bring Your light to my darkness and make me shine.