Acquaintence? Friend?

intimately acquainted...intimately acquainted...I pondered this morning as I was reading on of my most familiar scriptures in a different translation. The passage ususally reads "...you discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways (Psalm 139:3-NIV). There is a song Mercy Me did about 14 years ago from this Psalm that is one of my all-time favorite quiet time songs...back to this morning...

"...you scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways...(NASB)

as I ponder...meditate...stop and just think (nothing wierd or creepy about pondering/meditating) about what this is saying...what God is saying to me.

He scrutinizes (examine closely and minutely) my path (course; way of life--my choices) and lying down, and is intimately (one's deepest nature) acquainted (to know) all my ways...I don't get the vibe that God has the clipboard and excel spreadsheet with all of my choices and his red pen tallying up my every decision to see if it impacts His kingdom...that sounds more like what I do when I worry over what I look like, or who I'm trying to please...that makes me tired and stressed out just thinking about it!

I know intellectually that God knows all about me, but this morning the freshness of intimately acquainted,..the God of all the universe, not just the God of me and my family, or the town where I live, or the church where we serve, but God of all the universe knows me...knows me well...He is intimately acquainted with me, that is monumental to me this morning. Because eventhough he is is intimately acquainted with me-knows all the good and the bad, he wants to remain intimately acquainted with me. He's not going anywhere. Regardless of how remote I feel some days, not to mention how selfish I am with all things Mike, 1) God created me out of nothing (Ps. 139:13) 2) He has a plan to take care of me and my family (Jer. 29:11), and 3) He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).

Abba Father,
Thank you for taking the time to know me...to be intimately acquainted with me and not turn away from what you see. Thank you for drawing close and speaking with me and listening with me this morning. I need your help today to be a good man and take care of my bride, be a good example for my children, and make an impact on my community for you in a positive way. Since you are intimately acquainted with me, you know that is overwhelming to me. Help me to honor you with my attitude and my choices.

I believe mike-inprogress is much better than just mike : ) Have a great day!