Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. Philippians 3:8a
The Lord is so infinitely precious. The knowledge of Him is like a limitless mine of the most valuable treasure! The more we mine, the more treasure He reveals in Himself and the more we become aware that there is an endless supply to be revealed with each new day.
As a child, I knew about God. He was a commonly talked about Friend in our household. We regularly went to His house but other than the occasional interaction with Him, He remained the Friend of my parents. As a teenager, I knew that I wanted a friendship with Him as well. I told Him so and He invited me to spend as much time as I would with Him but despite the fact that I professed to want to really know Him, I poured my energy into other things that showed my true priorities. When I ran into the darkness and saw its power, I fled to God. He was there all of the time, guarding me, yet not forcing Himself into my world. All it took was a call to Him and He rescued me! I chose Him as my Friend. Very slowly, my priorities started to include Him but He was far from being my priority. Though I knew His Name, address, some aspects of His character, I preferred to talk to Him on my terms about my needs. I wasn't a good listener. After all, I told Him what I needed. As long as He listened to me, I didn't even realize that I never stopped to hear Him speak. I wouldn't have even recognized His voice.
Now, any other friend would have given up on me long ago but my God is no common friend. That's what makes Him God! He knew that I was immature - a baby really. He saw me through loving eyes and was forever patient with me. He loves me so much that He was willing to wait until my attention would be turned to Him. But oh, how much I missed out on!
I am so grateful for the circumstances that prompted me to begin to spend time with Him. Just the smallest taste of His companionship left me hungering for more. He was so much bigger, so much more interested in me than I had thought! When my world started falling apart, when trusts were shattered and when those I sought security in were all destroyed, He became my world. When all else had been stripped away - He was more than sufficient! I had no one who could fully understand me, but He did. He understood the words behind the tears. In fact, He said He collected them in His bottle. I learned the sound of His voice. I remember the first time I heard it and knew it was His. There is no more beautiful sound! He would call me away from the chaos and would sit with me. He showed me how to get through each day. He kept me from getting lost. He was always beside me. He walked with me. More often than I know, He carried me. He became my closest Friend!
Now, our friendship is ever deepening. We live every day together. He never leaves me or forgets about me. He's never too busy for me. Sometimes I get distracted from his Presence but He's so patient with me. There is nothing that I enjoy more than beginning each day with Him. He watches over me all night and then wakes me. We talk to each other. Sometimes we just sit silently. Sometimes, we laugh or play wildly together. He is so multi-faceted! He loves to reveal Himself to me and I love to pour myself into knowing Him! It blows me away to think that the God of the Universe is my constant companion!
I used to think that this sort of relationship with the Lord was at best for the select few - and for me impossible. But I am learning that He delights in the foolish things of this world. He delights in His friendship with a common, conservative country girl who in spite of herself, had her eyes turned to Him and is forever changed! I can't wait to see the treasures of His Personality that He will show me today! Are you common? Unworthy? It doesn't matter. We all are. Let me introduce you to the most uncommon of friendships... Come, meet my God!
