Experiencing intimacy with God. Part 1 of 4
Hey, you know that thing that happened that continues to steal your joy?
Well… God knows all about that and He wants you to know that He knows. He doesn’t want you to know so that it will just make it harder. He wants you to know that He knows so that you will understand that He can make it better.
Psalm 139:1, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.”
If you’ve ever struggled to experience intimacy with God, you are not alone. And if you struggle with forgiveness (including forgiving yourself for all your shortcomings), it’s going to be hard to ever feel close to God.
Psalm 139 is a powerful chapter in the Bible and if you will let it’s truth sink in, it will change your life.
Truth #1 – God Knows You
Psalm 139:1, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.”
In order to understand Psalm 139:1, you need to understand the deeper meaning of a couple of words. God has “searched” you. He is telling you that He has not just searched you casually but He has “thoroughly investigated” you. Like a private investigator has searched a crime scene, God has completely investigated all the details of you and your life. He searched you and “knows” you. You really can’t truthfully say that “nobody knows and nobody understands” my situation ever again. Because, God actually does know and He actually does understand. He has essentially “placed you under the giant microscope of heaven” and taken a deep look into your life. He knows you.
God not only knows you and understands the circumstances of your life story He also understands these things…
He knows your actions. “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising…” Psalm 139:2
He knows your thoughts. “…thou understandest my thought afar off.” Psalm 139:2
He knows your ways. “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3
He knows your words. “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:4
So, how should you and I feel about this? Knowing that God knows us so intimately. The psalmist David said in Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” In other words, it is an awesome concept to embrace… that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, cares enough to know me so well. Because of this truth, I can trust Him. I no longer need to struggle with those things that keep coming back to steal joy from my life. I have God and He cares and He is near.
