The Chair

Psalm 139:1-6

​My very best friend in the whole world is my sister, Krista.  I am very comfortable around her and can be myself because I know she knows me--there is no need to pretend with her.  She knows my heart, she knows all that I am capable of, and she knows my lovable and less than lovable parts.  I know that she loves me no matter what; even on the days I drive her bonkers...

and she is ready to smack some sense into me.  Having this kind of friendship is one of the most blessed relationships a person can have.  As you read this, some of you may have thought of that special person that is your Krista.

Though my sister and I are very close there are some things we cannot do because we live several states apart.  She does not know everything about me, because she can't live in my head.  She doesn't know when I sit down or when I stand up throughout the day.  There are many things I could keep secret from her if I really wanted to, but there is One I cannot keep secrets from.

Psalm 139:1-2 tells us
   "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away."

I used to read this verse and think of how doomed I was because my sin would be so obvious to Him.  I treated this verse like it was in the Bible to remind me that like Santa Claus, God was keeping track of every moment I was naughty or nice.  How wrong I was.  When these verses are read in the context of those that follow it, it becomes clear that something totally different is being pointed out to us.

Friend, that something is that God is hyper-aware of every little detail about me and about you.  Why?  Because He is so passionate about you that He takes note of your every thought and your every action.  He does this because what a person pays attention to is what one values.  He is paying attention to your thoughts and your actions because He is declaring that you are loved and you are valuable.

I wonder how it would change my day if every time I sat down or stood up, I reminded myself that at that moment God is paying attention to me, not because He is keeping a tally of my mess ups, but because He loves me so immensely.  I pray that as you go through this week, each time you see a chair you will be reminded that God is paying attention to you because you are loved and you are valuable.