Distractions.

God is Jealous for us. Take a moment and really read those words. What does it inspire in you? Do you think of a time when you were dating, and your significant other was talking to someone else? Do you think of children, looking with envy at someone with a new toy, bike, or item of importance? What about the person who got promoted to the position you were striving for? Whatever you may be thinking of, the Jealousy of God does not fit in to our petty brains. What the Jealousy of God means is simply this: He will not share you with anyone or anything else. You occupy His thoughts and mind, and You are His child whom He loves and cares for. (You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Exodus 20:5) We would like to think that we're in love with Him, but I think we like to place Him at the top of a list, whether long or short, of good things that we miss out on for the BEST thing! God will not share you, not with sports, or business, or family outings, or jobs, or any other good things. He gives us those goods things to bring Him glory! He blesses us to be a blessing so that everyone may see and give Him glory (Romans 12). Instead, though, without realizing it, we can worship the blessing, the gift, without regards to the gift giver. My eldest son often humbles me in his attitude. from his first birthday to his most recent (his 9th birthday) he's always been grateful for everything he's received. I remember his first birthday when he "oh'd" with wonder at each and every gift he opened (even socks). This year, I remember talking of the dinner his mom and I (mostly her) prepared for him. It was full of his favorite things, simple, but all him; chicken finger sandwiches and crinkle cut fries. He came up to us, full of joy, hugging his mother and I fiercely, and with no sarcasm stated "Dad, you and mom are the best." This is the gratitude we should show to our God who supplies all things for our needs. Instead, we look at the gifts, and other distractions. We focus on our lives, our comforts, and our needs; instead, we should be fiercely seeking the giver, and seeking His will for our lives. I'll be praying for you to do this, as I hope you'll pray for me in my pursuit of the Almighty.

You Have Searched Me and Known Me

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, You have searched me

and known me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

You understand my thoughts from afar.

3You search out my path and my lying down;

You are aware of all my ways.

4Even before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, O LORD.

5You hem me in behind and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

8If I ascend to the heavens, You are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle by the farthest sea,

10even there Your hand will guide me;

Your right hand will hold me fast.

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,

and the light become night around me”—

12even the darkness is not dark to You,

but the night shines like the day,

for darkness is as light to You.

13For You formed my inmost being;a

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I will praise You,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are Your works,

and I know this very well.

15My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

when I was woven together

in the depths of the earth.

16Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all my days were written in Your book

and ordained for me

before one of them came to be.

17How precious to me are Your thoughts,b O God,

how vast is their sum!

18If I were to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand;

and when I awake,

I am still with You.

19O God, that You would slay the wicked—

away from me, you bloodthirsty men—

20who speak of You deceitfully;

Your enemies take Your name in vain.c

21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD,

and detest those who rise against You?

22I hate them with perfect hatred;

I count them as my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.

24See if there is any offensive way in me;

lead me in the way everlasting.

Footnotes:

13 a Hebrew my kidneys 17 b Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me 20 c Hebrew does not include your name