PSALM 139:1-12 – O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

David’s experience in today’s scripture provides at least two very important principles if one desires to live the Christian life in close fellowship with the Lord and conforming into His image. The first one is an attitude necessary for any communion with the Lord and becoming more like Him. The second is a God-awareness that is key to a progressive life of holiness and sinning less, not “sinless” but sinning less.

First the attitude. As we read today’s scripture, observe David’s heart. What do we discover? A godly man overwhelmed and humbled with the greatness of his God. Here is a truth needing to be recovered in the contemporary church and individual Christians–the awe of God. To do so develops within us the necessary virtue for any meaningful fellowship with God and spiritual growth–humility. Let’s learn this from the sweet Psalmist. Take time to meditate on God’s greatness, not just His promises to us, but who He is to us. Get lost in the holy amazement of His being; His attributes. Refuse busyness. Refuse hollow thinking. Hit the pause button in life and marvel over our God. It will prepare our hearts to learn from Him about Him in order to enjoy Him.

The other principle for Christian living from David’s example is living in the awareness of God’s all-knowing and all-present being. Go back and read today’s scripture. Pay attention to the two attributes of God that David repeatedly comes back to. This Psalm is rich in the theology of God’s omniscience (His all-knowing, all the time awareness of us) and His omnipresence (always present, everywhere, all the time). It really doesn’t need to be said the implications of both in Christian living, but here we go . . .

Living in the awareness of God’s all-knowing and all-present Being is a strong deterrent against harboring sin in our hearts and doing sin in our lives. These attributes lived remind us there is never a time we are alone, a conversation is private, or a thought is kept to ourselves. Such knowledge should not make us afraid, but wise. They don’t cause us to live on “egg shells” thinking God is ready to “pounce on us” for a bad thought or tolerated sin. Just the opposite. Remember this. He knows all about us and yet still loves us. Living in light of Him thoroughly knowing us and being constantly with us fuels us to love Him more, run from what displeases Him most, sin, and pursue lives reflecting all that He loves – holiness, humility, and conformity to His Son, the Lord Jesus.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to live my life constantly aware of Your Holy Presence motivating me to love You and avoid sin.”

QUOTE: “Learn to live aware of God’s constant Presence. It will determine how we talk, what we watch and where we go.”