She’s new to us.
We know little about her. But we want to know everything about her because she lives here now.
She needs us to know.
Do we want God to know everything about us, too?
Join us in our final week of memorizing Psalm 1.
Do You Want to Be Known?
My daughter birthed her new baby daughter two weeks ago. I’m excited to be a grandmother now to two beautiful granddaughters!
But with a newborn in their house, everything is changing. They listen for her cries to know if she’s hungry. They feel her skin to know if she’s hot or cold. They watch her chest to know she’s breathing in and out.
And she knows none of it.
Do we like being watched?
- Are we aware of how closely God watches us?
- Do we wonder how much He knows about us?
- Do we even WANT to be known that much?
Sometimes we prefer to remain unknown.
It feels safer to hide in the dark instead of to be seen in the light. Like Adam and Eve, we think we can hide from God.
We don’t want God to know our bad thoughts, our guilty secrets, our impure motives. If He knew, really knew us, would He still love us? Would He be disappointed? Would He turn away from us?
But He already knows us. Everything about us. And His love for us is as strong as ever.
Knowledge Is Power
“Know” in Psalm 1:6 is from the Hebrew word yada (Strong’s #3045) meaning more than our causal “to know,” but a deeper knowing, a very familiar understanding of someone or something.
When we reframe God’s knowledge of us as faithfulness instead of spying, we can accept the grace of being known. We can live openly; live protected; live loved.
We can rest more securely in God’s love precisely because He knows us, not in spite of it. Like a mother watches her child, so God watches over us.
- With care.
- With protection.
- With love.
Because God knows us, He does what’s best for us. It’s a blessing, not a curse.
As our little granddaughter continues to grow, we will learn more and more about her. Our knowledge of her comes slowly, through time, and remains finite.
But God already knows all about her. He knows what she needs, who she needs, and when she needs it.
And because of His knowing, she is already blessed.
May we feel blessed likewise that He also knows us.
Memorize This Week
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1:6 (ESV)
Thanks to all who memorized and meditated through Psalm 1 with us this fall. Join us again in 2020 when we’ll learn another chapter of the Bible to hide in our hearts.
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Linda Stoll says
Lisa, I am so delighted with you, for you! Enjoy these lovely first weeks.
There’s nothing quite like cradling a baby grandchild, is there …
Bless you all!
Lisa says
Absolutely nothing like it. Thanks, Linda! We are overjoyed that she is here. I’m heading back to her house in a few hours to squeeze in more Granna time with her and her big sister. :)
floyd says
Congratulations! So awesome!
To know He does no me and still uses His grace to love me is beyond my comprehension.
You go grandma!
Lisa says
Thanks, Floyd. Getting to be a grandma is one of God’s great graces to me! :)
Anita Ojeda says
I love that God knows EVERYTHING about me and loves me anyway. I’m glad he’s watching over me!
Lisa says
I know, right? Sometimes the more I know about me, the less I like me. :) But thankfully God doesn’t think like we do.
Lesley says
It’s comforting to know that God knows all about us, but still loves us! It brings a lot of freedom to grasp that truth.
Lisa says
Ah, freedom. Yes! It is liberating to know there is no danger in being ourselves in front of God.
marthajaneorlando says
How exciting, Lisa, to have a brand new granddaughter to love! She is so blessed to have a caring family, and blessed to be known, through and through, by our loving Father. I take great comfort that God knows, and loves, each of us so intimately and completely.
Blessings!
Lisa says
Thanks, Martha. We feel very blessed to have another little one in our family to love. I look forward to getting to know her better and better as she grows. I’m thankful that God knows her already!
Barbara Harper says
Congratulations on your new granddaughter! What fun!
I’m so thankful God knows everything about me and still loves me.
Lisa says
It has been a lot of fun! Thanks, Barbara. She’s still working on getting her days and nights worked out, so last night was especially rough. I’m helping out again at my daughter’s house this week. God knows that it’s young women who need to have the babies and not us older ones; Granna is tired this morning. :)
Trudy Den Hoed says
She is so beautiful, Lisa! Congratulations on your second grandchild! I love this truth – “We can rest more securely in God’s love precisely because He knows us, not in spite of it.” Amen! Love and blessings to you and your family!
Lisa says
We think she’s beautiful too. :) Thanks, Trudy!
M. E. Weyerbacher (@MegWeyerbacher) says
Congrats on the new family member. This is a wonderful reminder today, Lisa.
Thank you for sharing here and over at my blog. I always appreciate your wisdom, and how you write so gently.
Lisa says
I appreciate your faithfulness in hosting us, Meg. I enjoy reading what you share and who you share!
Laurie says
Lisa, congratulations on your precious little granddaughter! How wonderful! I am so happy for you and your family. I love your image of God watching over the baby. There are certainly times in my life where I have not thought about God watching me and I am ashamed at what He sees. Luckily, He is a forgiving, loving God who knows our hearts.
Lisa says
Thanks, Laurie! I remember as a child, watching an older lady in church watch us young kids. It was spooky. ha. I somehow equated that with God watching us and it seemed unpleasant. But thankfully my view of his vision changed as I became an adult and now I’m thankful for it too. :)
Patsy Burnette says
Beautiful post, Lisa. “And because of His knowing, she is already blessed.” <— LOVE THIS QUOTE! We are all blessed to be know by Him! :)
Pinned & tweeted.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Lisa says
I appreciate you hosting us each week, Patsy. I always am encouraged by your godly posts!
adaughtersgiftoflove says
Psalm 139 really shows us how He knows us.I have been encouraging everyone to read Psalms about thanksgiving as it is approaching. Your granddaughter is beautiful and blessed.
Lisa says
Yes, I meant to include scripture from Psalm 139 in this post so I’m glad that you’re mentioning it here in the comments. It’s such an encouraging passage about God knowing all about us. Thanks!