Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 The Message
How does it make you feel when someone takes the time to really get to know you?
When they remember your food preferences, your favourite music, the things you enjoy doing, or the little things that matter to you. Maybe they remember something you mentioned months ago. Maybe they simply sit down and say, “Tell me your story,” and genuinely want to hear what you have to say.
It makes us feel cared for.
We feel seen. Known. Valued.
There is something powerful about being known by another person and discovering that they still choose to draw close to us.
We crave that kind of relationship. We offer it to the people we love and care about. We take time to learn about them because they matter to us.
And yet, sometimes we forget that God knows us more deeply than anyone ever could.
Psalm 139 says:
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”
Psalm 139:1–2
God knows your whole story.
He knows where you have been. He knows what brought you to where you are today. He knows the things you celebrate and the things you wish you could change. He knows your fears, your hopes, your disappointments and the prayers you haven’t even figured out how to put into words yet.
Jesus tells us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered.
You are completely known by God.
But here is what I find incredible: although God already knows everything about us, He still invites us to tell Him.
He knows what you’re afraid of, but He wants you to bring your fear to Him.
He knows you’re disappointed, but He wants you to talk to Him about your disappointment.
He knows what you’re hoping for, but He still invites you to ask.
He knows what you’re struggling with, but He wants you to bring the struggle into His presence.
Because prayer isn’t about giving God information He doesn’t have.
Prayer is relationship.
Think about someone you love. You might already know what happened in their day, but you still want to hear them tell you about it. You might know they’re hurting, but you still want them to trust you enough to say, “This hurt me.”
God invites us into that kind of relationship with Him.
And relationship goes both ways.
God invites us to be known by Him, but He also invites us to know Him.
We discover His character through His Word. We learn to recognize His voice through the Holy Spirit. We spend time in His presence. We discover what matters to Him, what He loves, what He promises and who He says we are.
And I have to ask myself:
How many times do I pass by that invitation?
How many times, Lord, do I walk past You to pick up my phone?
How many times do I call the person I know will agree with me before I ever pray?
How many times do I scroll, search, ask someone else’s opinion, replay the situation in my head or try to solve everything myself before bringing it to You?
There is nothing wrong with having people we trust. God created us for relationship with one another.
But those relationships were never intended to replace our relationship with Him.
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
John 10:14
Notice both sides of that relationship.
I know them.
They know Me.
God already knows you.
The invitation is for you to know Him.
Maybe today the invitation isn’t to pray better, read more chapters, or try harder.
Maybe it is simply to spend time with Him.
Tell Him what you’re thinking even though He already knows.
Tell Him what you’re afraid of.
Tell Him what you’re hoping for.
Ask Him your questions.
Open His Word because you want to know the One who already knows you completely.
And then make room to listen.
The God who knows every detail of your story is inviting you into relationship with Him.
How often are we accepting the invitation?
Reflection
What is something happening in your life right now that you have talked to other people about more than you have talked to God about?
What would it look like to bring that to Him today?
And when was the last time you opened God’s Word not because you had to read it, but simply because you wanted to know Him better?
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You know me completely and still invite me to come close to You. You know my thoughts, my fears, my hopes, my failures and every part of my story. Forgive me for the times I look everywhere else for what You are inviting me to bring first to You.
Teach me not only to know about You, but to know You. Give me a desire for Your Word and sensitivity to Your Holy Spirit. Help me to bring You the honest parts of my heart and to make room to listen when You speak.
Thank You that I am seen, known and loved by You.
Amen.
Dawn Berry
Executive Assistant
