Remember that creepy 1997 film…I Know What You Did Last Summer? The whole movie was premised on the spine chilling idea that there was a malevolent force fully aware of your secret, private moves. Such is the stuff horror movies are made of.
But…what if there was a flip side to this?  An all-knowing, all-loving, Sovereign force that watched our every move with interest.  A Comforter, Friend, close Brother who always wants our ultimate good…I doubt I could sell this idea to Hollywood. The plot is too improbable for them.

 
Do you know God? If you are a Christian you might be tempted to just quickly answer: Of course! Do you REALLY know God? Uh…what are you getting at?
In an intimate relationship, there is really nothing more satisfying then when someone “gets us”. Our best friends and spouses “understand us” right? If the relationship is to be successful, then this is almost a pre-requisite. The same is true of God. In order to be in a successful relationship with Him…we need to “get Him”…truly KNOW WHO HE IS and what He desires.

 
How can one do this, you may ask? Fortunately, God comes with a “handbook” or a study manual. If we take the time to study His Word, we can get to intimately know Him. Too often we have a shallow relationship, with Him not unlike a teenage crush. As long as He is making us feel good, sending us gifts and following us around like a puppy…everything’s good. When the relationship develops into something more than surface level…we take a few steps back like: WHOA God…Down Boy.

 
Take a moment to meditate on WHO God really is. Here is a list of all the compound Biblical names of God in the Bible:

 Jehovah-Ezer: The Lord our Helper

Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord our Provider

Jehovah-Mekeddeshem: The Lord Who Sanctifies

Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner Who goes before us

Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord our Healer

Jehovah-Seba’ot: The God of the Heavenly Army Hosts

Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace
But these two really sum it up:
Jehovah-Roi: The Lord our Shepherd, The God Who SEES ALL

Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is There, Omniscient, Omnipresent, All- surrounding

Then there is the Ultimate Name. When Moses asks Him for a Name from the burning bush He simply answers: “I Am Who I Am.” In another translated version it more purely says: “I Exist.” Whew…that sends pleasant chills down my spine. He is the quintessential Essence of Life. When you get a complete revelation on just WHO it is that runs the Universe…you can fully grasp this stunning conundrum:
What is man that you are mindful of him?

~Hebrews 2:6

So, the next time you drop to your knees…try starting out with a major dose of gratitude. It is an amazing privilege to speak to Him. Next add the acknowledgement of just Who it is you are talking to.

 
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with Praise.

~Psalm 100:4

 
So…what are WE in America doing this summer? We, the United States of America, are getting ready to vote on the redefinition of marriage in our Supreme Court. God help us…this is truly the Abomination that Causes Desolation. The ultimate affront to God: Man/Man and Woman/Woman intimate relationships being “sanctioned” by our highest legal authority as holy. We will officially begin to worship ourselves.
I know what I will be doing this Summer…

I’ll be on my knees.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

~2 Thessalonians 2:11

The people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion.

~Edmund Burke (statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who supported the cause of the American Revolution)