“O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.” Psalm 139:1
The heart’s greatest longing is to be known.
We walk the earth with empty cups, foisting them in the hands of another as if to say fill me up, patch that void when our need has already been met.
Lord, You counted me worthy of Your pursuit, even in all my unworthiness. You earmarked time and space for study and You have studied me. You didn’t stop at making me, You made me a home for You. You unlock doors in that home I’ve wedged shut. You open windows and air out closets and shed light where darkness has made its claim.
Your love takes action.
You search and You claim. Your knowing is a forever pursuit. You didn’t once know me, but You know me everyday. You watch my minutes. You take delight in what no one else sees. You adore what you made.
And You invite me to adore You in response.
Who are you, God, who not only knows me but receives adoration from the one You made who is still encased in flesh?
Father, You not only search me and study me, interpreting what many misunderstand, but You made me. My Master is my Maker and my Maker masters me. The callouses of Your hands formed my innermost parts. You made beauty out of dust and this beauty of mine, You treasure.
You define safety by Your safe knowing. You liberate me by Your eye that pierces through my insides.
Oh Father of light breaking through and into my insides, Your knowing me makes me alive. How can I not adore You?
I adore You, God who knows me with a knowledge like none other. I thank You Father for traveling the depths of me and not shrinking back from what You found but pressing Yourself in. You engage with all parts of me and this engagement sets. I adore You, Father who sets me free by Your knowing.
When I am known, I am free. And You know me Father.
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So what do I do with these posts, you ask, other than just read them? First, if you haven’t yet, read: Why I Adore and Morning Chai, Explained to give you a context for this little space on my blog.
If you are compelled, I invite you to participate. Set up a space and time in your own life to begin adoring. Over laundry or dinner dishes, on your commute to work, or in the wee morning hours — five or ten minutes is a great start. You can use the verse I list here every day or two as a launch pad for your own adoration. (Showing Up gives you some practicals.)
Then practice praise.
I promise your weary soul won’t regret it.
You can see all of the Morning Chai posts with this link: http://www.EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai/ and you can easily subscribe to these devotional meditations as they are delivered, by using this feed: http://www.EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai/feed or by entering your email address in the second box on the right-hand side.
Photo compliments of Cherish Andrea Photography.
