Lord, You Know Me

 Louisa Ikena ponders Psalm 139 and explores it in prayerful reflection, emphasizing how we are fully known by God.  

Known by the Creator

Lord, you have probed me, you know me;
You know when I sit and when I stand;
You understand my thoughts from afar. (Psalm 139:1-2)

I am known by the Creator of the universe. I am totally understood by the Father of all, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, and the Fire of Love. At Mass, we get to consume the All-Consuming Fire (referring to Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29).

Such knowledge is beyond me,
Far too lofty for me to reach. (Psalm 139:6)

Yet, somehow, we keep reaching out. We keep lifting our minds and hearts to Him in prayer. God is everywhere.

Where can I hide from your spirit?
From your presence, where can I flee?
If I ascend to the heavens, you are there;
If I lie down in Sheol, there you are.” (Psalm 139:7-8)

In the Light of Love

No matter where I go, You are there, Lord. If I climb the highest mountain, perform my most difficult tasks, dig myself into the deepest holes, or sink into the deepest parts of my imagination, You are there.

Someday every thought, word, and deed will be brought out into the light. In the light of Your love, Lord, they will be exposed. Please purify me, Lord. Purify us and cleanse me. Are my words ready to be published like a famous newspaper? Are my thoughts also ready to print? Yet You love us, sinners.

You formed my inmost being;
You knit me in my mother’s womb.
I praise You, so wonderfully you made me;
Wonderful are your works!
My very self you know;
My bones were not hidden from you,
When I was being made in secret,
Fashioned as in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes foresaw my actions,
In Your book all are written down,
My days were shaped, before one came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Lord, you made every bit of us. You know my every knock and cranny. You created me not just good, but very good. As this Psalm says — so wonderfully you made us!

In the bright light that is You, I cannot help but cringe. As I grow in my desire to be closer to You and to be more and more like You, my sins and defects become more and more visible to me. My sin is always before me (see Psalm 51). It is easier to see in the light. We are invited to remain in You, Jesus. You are, indeed, the Light of the World. Our days were surely shaped by Him before we were conceived.

I ask myself: Are my thoughts, words, and actions in alignment with God’s will? How have I fallen short of the glory of God? Are the words of my lips and meditations of my heart pleasing to God (Psalm 19:14)?

Pray With Me:

Lord, I trust in You. Thank You for Your love that is always reaching out and never fails. I come to You in praise for Your wonderous works. I celebrate the moments you continue to work through me. Please help me get out of the way of Your Holy Spirit. Please let me be Your Instrument. I desire to me an instrument of Your Love, Joy, and Peace. Help me turn back to You over and over again when I stray. With quiet confidence, I affirm, indeed, Lord, You know me.

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Copyright 2026 Louisa Ann Irene Ikena
Images: Canva