“Hagar ran away.… Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘Return to your mistress and submit to her authority…. I will give you more descendants than you can count.’… Thereafter, Hagar referred to the Lord… as ‘the One who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have seen the One who sees me!’”
“’Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you…. Pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. … When you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret.’”
“For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true.”
Here’s the good news: God knows what we do in secret. It’s comforting to know we don’t have to publicly air our sins, questions, needs or even praises to have God know and respond to them.
Here’s the bad news: God knows what we do in secret. There’s no hiding our sins, questions or needs.
In short, God sees each and every one of us right down to our souls. He does not look past us as if we are a distraction, or not worth His attention. He does not look through us, as if we aren’t there. He does not look around us, or use peripheral vision, while dealing with more important things. He really sees us, just as we are.
So… running from Him is futile. Putting on “shows” of my religion or faith is a waste of time (and draws too much attention to me, anyhow). And praying just what I think He wants to hear is possibly even a bit insulting. I need to be more real with God. And I can be more real with God. Because He already sees me… and loves me anyway!
Don’t you suspect there is tremendous, powerful freedom in being able to be absolutely genuine all the time with our Creator? Wouldn’t that be a cool relationship to have, unburdened by guilt since nothing is hidden and nothing is unforgiven? I hear my inner voice (and, I think, many others now) saying, “You can do that?” Scripture says so. God sees it all. All we have to do is let go of it (whatever “it” is that is not of Him), and He will fill our lives to overflowing with His Spirit and blessing in return.
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