As a performer, I have had to assume many characters.  In so doing, I’m hiding my real identity behind a mask for a time and can be judged for the part I play rather than the person I really am.  In a way, it’s a momentary escape from the inner me to someone completely opposite of my actual personality.

We often don’t expose our true selves to those around us.  We don’t want them to know the ugliness within us, so we try to put on a different persona.

Those we love and share our lives with have already seen our dark sides, but do they really know everything about us?  Even those we care most about, are not aware of our deepest, darkest thoughts or sins.

Psalm 139 talks about God’s ever presence in our lives.  David is aware that nothing can be hidden from our God. He created us, for Pete’s sake.  He knew us before we were conceived.  He knows the number of every hair on our heads. He knows our thoughts, our anxious moments, our desires and sins.  God knows – even when others don’t.

That very thought should put us in awe of our Creator.  He lives within us and is the voice of conscience that cries out to us whenever we do wrong.

As we look forward to a new beginning – a new year – a resolved life, let’s never forget that God lives within us and we are His dwelling place.  We have an opportunity to share Him now with others.  Maybe one resolution for next year would be to reach out to someone with this amazing news.

We don’t need to be afraid of His omnipresence, omnipotence or His omniscience. These attributes are His gift to us.  Through them we can gain assurance that God never leaves us for even one nano-second.  His love endures forever.