Oh Lord, you have searched me 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. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely. O Lord, you hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
-Psalm 139:1-5
Does this verse make you panic thinking God knows everything about you? Or is it comforting knowing that he does and yet loves you still—warts and all? Dr. Snyder compares God’s loving care and watchful eye with that of a parent.
“…if we’re intending and making every effort to live according to his will, even if we blow it on a daily basis, then we can take great pleasure in the image of the watchful parent over the child. What normal, healthy parent scowls at the child and gets angry when she stumbles and falls when trying to walk? What parent doesn’t take pleasure in observing each movement of the infant? If we fallen creatures know how to enjoy taking care of our children, how much more does our Maker enjoy taking care of us!
We can rejoice that God has total power and always gets his way in the end. The good news is that in God, and only in God, does absolute power combine with absolute goodness.
Truly, as the psalmist says, we are hemmed in. When God decides to lay his hand upon us, he does so with unqualified, unflinching, commitment and with a purpose that is unwavering. That’s a fact we can relax in.”
TODAY’S PRAYER: Is God not letting you get your way? Express to him your gratitude for his unflagging commitment to your good. Then pray for a new freedom and strength to let go of the personal disappointment at your current struggle.
Photo by Leonid Mamchenkov via Flickr
- God of the Last Minute - September 25, 2018
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- Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 99 – The Final Chapter - April 9, 2018
