Thursday, November 16, 2023

Psalm 139:16
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

This profound truth reveals God to be intimately acquainted with every detail of our journey. He doesn't just observe from a distance; he knows us personally and deeply. In the rush of our daily lives, it's easy to forget that the Creator of the universe is fully aware of our joys and sorrows, our victories and struggles.

Not only does God know us personally, he also listens to us intently and deeply cares for us. God does not, however, want a one-sided relationship—he desires for us to know him personally, listen intently to him, and care about what he cares about.

God invites us into this relationship where we can approach him with confidence. In 1 John 5:14-15, we find reassurance: “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

This promise reminds us of the invitation to share the depths of our hearts before the One who intricately designed them. God, who knows the number of our days, also understands the desires of our hearts. He doesn’t listen to us out of obligation but out of a deep love that surpasses our understanding.

In our moments of joy, God rejoices with us. In our times of sorrow, he provides comfort. He longs for us to bring our fears, hopes, and dreams before him, not as a distant deity, but as a loving Father who leans in to hear from us.

Our God is a loving Father who listens to us. This is good news. Even better news is he actively works in our lives, providing what we need—not necessarily what we want or what we think we need.

As we navigate the highs and lows of life, let’s remember that we are known and heard by the God who formed us. Let us approach him with confidence, knowing that our prayers are not lost—they are heard by the One True God who made us, knows us, cares for us, and is actively working in our lives and our world.

Questions:
Are you confident that God wants to hear from you?

What have you been holding back from sharing with God?

Next Steps:
Take time today to talk to God about whatever’s on your mind. As you do, trust that he wants to hear from you. Don’t hold anything back.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for making me. Thank you for wanting to know me. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for caring deeply for me. Help me to trust all this to be true. Help me give all my worries, joys, and cares to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

This post was written by David Hammack, Jr., a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.