"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. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." – Psalms 139:1-6
As we begin this New Year, we are expected to experience differing emotions about the future. Who knows what exciting adventure this year will bring? Well, we know God does. He is in control and knows the end from the beginning.
"...For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’" – Isaiah 46:9-10
But the question on the mind of all believers at one point or another is, does God know me? Is he paying attention to my calendar, challenges, and concerns? One way to gain the assurance that God not only controls the cosmos but sees us and is intimately aware of our daily existence is to anchor one's life in the unchanging attributes of God.
The attributes of God are a sure foundation on which to build a solid faith. Let's look at what Charles Spurgeon says:
In Psalm 139, King David’s lyrics are full of adulation for the attributes of God. One
of the key features of his song is the revelation that because God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere at once, his knowledge of David’s life was comprehensive and wonderfully reassuring.
David’s song offers help to every faithful but sometimes fearful believer. It teaches us that when you build your life on the attributes of God, you gain the assurance that God knows you and sees you, and if He knows and sees you, He is also with you!
Listen to the first stanza of David's song and see if you can catch the first attribute of God David celebrates.
"O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path, and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways." – Psalms 139:1-3
The first attribute David points us to is the omniscience of God.
The word "omni" means “all.” To say that God is omniscient means that God is all-knowing and unfathomably wise. He knows every detail of our lives.
When we respect this aspect of God’s nature and approach God as if He is omniscient, we open a more significant channel of God’s power and intervention in our daily lives.
Now, much could be said about this attribute of God. However, the main point I wish to make in this blog is that David made God’s omniscience personal.
David sang… "God knows me."
Read Psalms 139:1-3 again:
"O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways." – Psalms 139:1-3
David said you have searched me. One meaning of the word searched is to "prove." In other words, God, when you stood me before the bear and the lion, and when you led me into the field to meet Goliath, you were searching my heart to see if I would trust you. Father, you have searched me. You know what I am made of.
Notice David said you know when "I sit down and when I rise up." This means a complete knowledge of every detail of his day. God is not in heaven unconcerned with the mundane issues of life.
David said God is so close to me that He knows even my thoughts far off. God knows what I am thinking and what I am planning. Isn’t that Incredible!
Most Christians can believe this about David, but we may think, I’m nobody; God doesn’t know me.
I would remind you about the story of Hagar (Sarai’s maidservant whom she gave to Abram in hopes of bearing him a son). She was considered a nobody. She was barren. She cried for years for someone to love her and for God to give her a child. God heard her prayer, and she became pregnant with a son named Ishmael. Sarah ran her off, but in the wilderness, she called God by a name mentioned only once in the Old Testament.
In Genesis 16, Hagar called God El Roi, which means “The God who sees me.” Hagar was considered a nobody in her society, yet she found strength and satisfaction in the only omniscient God.
Why is it so hard to believe that God knows us personally and cares about even the mundane details of our lives?
As we venture out into the unknowns of 2024, as believers, we can walk with the assurance that our God sees us and knows us. He knows every detail of the battles we will face this year and has ordained blessings for us along the way.
Let me encourage you to join me in anchoring our lives in God's unchanging, unshakable, and deeply assuring attributes. Our God is omniscient, all-knowing, and unfathomable wise!
Takeaways:
1. As believers, we are privileged to build our lives on the sure foundation of God’s unchanging attributes like omniscience.
2. Building our lives on the attributes of God rather than on our own emotional or spiritual strength fosters a growing sense of assurance that we are deeply known and cared for by God.
3. God may allow our resolve to be tested through various trials to prove the source of our assurance.
In 2024, let’s stay anchored in the attributes of God!
About Pastor Bob Moya
Pastor Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 22+ years. He is currently wrapping up his dissertation at Regent University and will graduate in the spring of 2024 with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee at Starbucks, or spending time with his family.
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