A Prayer about the God Who Knows You

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

All-Seeing Father,

You know that our world tells us to know ourselves 

and even to decide for ourselves who we will be—

to write our own stories for our own glory. 

Our world teaches us to be “know-it-alls.” 

And yet, you tell us that we are no better at seeing you fully 

than a seventy-five-year old with cataracts. 

Yes, we see some aspects clearly, 

both of you and ourselves, 

but much remains dim. 

The great good news is that 

you see us clearly, 

know us fully, 

and love us perfectly. 

In Isaiah, you assure us, 

“I have called you by name, 

you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). 

Because we belong to you, 

you will be with us 

when we pass through 

the waters 

and the fires. 

Because we belong to you, 

you know us, 

even when we are in the wilderness 

and do not know ourselves. 

We confess our desire for knowledge, 

thinking it gives us power;

We confess our longing to know you fully 

that we might love you fully, 

even as you fully know and fully love us. 

In Jesus’ name. 

Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:12; Isaiah 43:1-2; Hosea 13:4-8. 

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.