Comfort in Conviction

Psalm 139:1-3

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

This perhaps is one of the most convicting and comforting passages in all of scripture.  Convicting in that God knows me completely, my thoughts, my actions, my reactions.  As David says all my ways he is familiar with, ouch!  When I think about just a fraction of my ways and realize wow that was not glorifying or that was not godly at all.  Conviction as I understand it is from the Holy Spirit and is not for the purpose of guilt or remorse but is for the purpose of growth.  The Holy Spirit brings conviction for the purpose of growth in my relationship with the Father.  Sin will disrupt that relationship so the Holy Spirit steps in and brings conviction to point out to me something is not right.  Out of that I have a choice to make repent and turn from the sin or continue to ignore the Holy Spirit and allow it to hinder my relationship with God. 

Secondly it brings comfort because of the same reason, "all my ways he is familiar with".  Nothing takes God by surprise so the circumstances of life God knows and sees in my life.  He offers to me strength, wisdom and promises He will never leave me nor forsake me in the process.  So how can I not take comfort in this passage.

Father as I go through life and make choices that both will draw me closer to you and ones that will take me further from you, would you be quick to convict and quick to comfort.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for your conviction.