You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid your hand on me! This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. Psalm 139:2-6 TPT.

This morning in our Friday Retreat, we began by giving praise, gratitude and prayer requests that once each was given someone would offer to give a prayer. I began by sharing my awareness last night of Psalm Sunday coming up this weekend that commemorates what Jesus did so long ago by riding into Jerusalem on a colt knowing what awaited Him. He did that for us. It’s good to remember what has been done for each one of us whether we realize it or not. Another member shared the joy he has been experiencing these past two days which has brought such contentment. Others shared concerns for adult kids on the brink of decisions impacting their lives going forward and yet another shared the peace she has in the excitement of knowing life will change soon and even though unknown by her, it is known by our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. That’s when we took a left turn! What had been prepared for us today changed as God led her to share the Scripture verse cited above from the Passion Translation. A left turn to what was unexpected by her and yet known by God. Isn’t that the experience each of us has in our lives? Possibilities and choices. And our greatest choice lies before us. Will we choose God? Will we choose to be loved by God who knows us better than anyone possibly could know us, including ourselves? Do you want to be known? You already are! A left turn to Him!

And our psalm, Psalm 63, beautifully shows David’s choice for God and the blessings he received in that choosing. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. v. 1. Remember what Jesus said to the woman at the well, the Samaritan woman? If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water…Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:10, 13-14. A left turn! And David goes on…I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. v. 2-8. Why a left turn? Because before we turn to God we walk along paths deep with the ruts of not knowing God. David described those in his own day choosing the paths that led to great harm. Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth…They will be given over to the sword…the mouths of liars will be silenced…v. 9, 10, 11. They were silenced…they did die…so will we one day.

How do we put all of this together? Jesus, God the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit, guides us to the Father who knows us so intimately, and is closer than a friend or a brother in His knowing of us. That is the blessing that awaits us as we take a left turn toward our Creator God, surprised to be so known and so loved. God’s love is better than life! And He gave His life for us to bring us joy with Him in life eternal. Intimate, abiding, faithful Love. You are known. You are loved. You are not alone. Whenever you’re ready…He’s here ready to share. I think one day we will all of us be surprised by the depth of God’s knowing love. Even now He’s preparing the way for us and sparing us from the harms of our pasts.