June 21 In You I am made and known

Oh Father!  There is no person or created being like You!  Nothing on earth, or beneath the earth, or in the heavens above.

There is no other who knows me inside and out.  Although billions and billions of people have lived, You are personally familiar with who I am.  You recognize me; know what I do, when I come and where I go, when I lie down and when I get up.

You also know me on the inside: my thoughts, my mind, my heart, and my  motivation for all I do.  Before I form a sentence, You know what I will say before I speak it.

You are everywhere at all times.  There is no place to hide from Your presence.  I could go as far as is humanly possible, into the depths of the earth, or beneath the sea, or out into the vastness of space beyond the other planets and stars; and You would already be there.

There is nothing that can conceal me from Your watchful eye.  Even darkness does not prevent You from seeing me.

In one way, You are like a parent who knows their child.  A parent learns the aptitudes and personality of their child so well that the child’s actions do not surprise the parent.  Even motivation can be seen sometimes because children are often so transparent in their behaviors.

Because they are younger and they have limited ability to think and reason, a parent can often protect and teach them.  But You are much more than simply older and wiser than me.  As a child is amazed by the power and ability and wisdom of a parent, I am amazed by You – to the zillionth power!

In Your sovereignty and power, You created my body, my mind, my spirit – before I was even born.  You formed all that would be me in my mother’s womb.  How amazing is that?

By Your design I have two hands with the ability to work and craft, and gently hold a baby.  By Your design I have two eyes that can see the wonder You created in the beauty of the earth: flowers, birds, mountains, oceans, a sunrise.  You gave me ears to hear, a brain that thinks, and a mouth that speaks.

You chose when I would be born, where, and to whom.  And You will close my eyes when my time on earth is ended.

In all this, You gave me the ability to know You.  As You reveal Yourself to me in Your Word, and as we communicate in prayer, I am blown away by who You are.  Your thoughts, Your creativity defy human imagination and understanding.  They are too wonderful for me.  And I am blessed beyond measure to know You.

Continue to lead me, teach me, test me, mature me, Father.  Know me.  And let me know You.  Amen

Psalm 139:1-24

Jun 21 In You I am made and known

Oh Father!  There is no person or created being like You!  Nothing on earth, or beneath the earth, or in the heavens above.

There is no other who knows me inside and out.  Although billions and billions of people have lived, You are personally familiar with who I am.  You recognize me; see what I do, when I come and where I go, when I lie down and when I get up.

Other people might also know me that well, but You also know me on the inside.  You know when I have a thought, and what it is.  You see into my mind and heart to know my motivation for all that I do.  When I am forming a sentence, You know what I will say even before I speak.

You are everywhere at all times.  Anyplace I can go You are already there and can see me.  There is no place to hide from Your presence.  I could go as far as is humanly possible, into the depths of the earth, or beneath the sea, or out into the vastness of space beyond the other planets and stars; and You would already be there.  There is nothing that can conceal me from Your watchful eye.  Even darkness does not prevent You from seeing me.

In one way, You are like a parent who knows their child.  A parent learns the aptitudes and personality of their child so well that the child’s actions do not surprise the parent.  Even motivation can be seen sometimes because children are often so transparent in their behaviors.

Because they are younger, they are limited in their ability and thinking so a parent can often hem them in to protect and teach them.  But You are much more than simply older and wiser than me, as a parent is to a child.  As a child is amazed by the power and ability and wisdom of a parent, I am amazed by You – to the zillionth power!

In Your sovereignty and power, You created my body, my mind, my spirit – before I was even born.  You formed all that would be me in my mother’s womb.  How amazing is that?   You have the power of life!

It is by Your design that I have two hands that give me the ability to work and craft, and gently hold a baby.  It is by Your design that I have two eyes that can see the wonder You created in the beauty of the earth: flowers, birds, mountains, oceans, a sunrise.  You gave me ears that hear, a brain that thinks, a mouth that speaks.

You chose when I would be born, where, and to whom.  And You will close my eyes when my time on earth is ended.

In all this, You gave me the ability to know You.  As You reveal Yourself to me in Your Word, and as we communicate in prayer, I am blown away by who You are.  Your thoughts, Your creativity defy human imagination and understanding.  They are too wonderful for me.  And I am blessed beyond measure to know You.

Continue to lead me, teach me, test me, mature me, Father.  Know me.  And let me know You.  Amen

Psalm 139:1-24

Apr 21 Obey Your Word, walk in Your presence

In today’s scripture, You give two passages that tell me how to be blessed.  I acknowledge and desire to follow those instructions.

Lord, help me “be very strong; to be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.  I will not associate with those who do not follow You by invoking the names of their gods or swear by them.  I will not serve them or bow down to them.  I will hold fast to You.” 

Lord, I can only be careful to obey Your Word if I know Your Word.  So I will read it and study to understand it.  I will pray and ask for understanding when I am confused or in doubt.

I will not ever call upon the names of other gods, because there is no other God but You.  There is none like You.  There is no other name under heaven by which I am saved.

Your power alone created the universe.  I will worship You alone, and seek Your direction and wisdom for my life.

The next passage tells me “blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence.”  Father, I give glory to Your name only, because of who You are and what You have done.  You are Most Holy God.  You are all-powerful and all-knowing.  You created the heavens and the earth.

You created man and set him in this place to have fellowship with You.  When he broke that fellowship by sinning, You made a way of reconciling man to You: through Your blood on the cross.  And because I accept that gift I can walk in the light of Your presence once again.

The light of Your presence is where truth is revealed, nothing is hidden, nothing is feared.  Your presence dispels darkness.  To be present with You is to talk with You and listen to You – Your responses in prayer, in Your Word and through the Holy Spirit.  It is to rest in You, fearing nothing.

So I rejoice in Your name.  I trust in Your righteousness.  You are my protection, my King, the Holy One.   And I am blessed.  Amen

Joshua 23:6-11; Psalm 89:14-18