Coram Deo: Moment by Moment Before the Face of God

DEVOTION • “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Read time: 2 min

Psalm 19:14 most often gets cited in a benedictive manner, perhaps after a sermon or prayer: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

But ponder for a moment the monumental import of this famous ending to this famous psalm for all of life.

God hears every word.

Such a realization is at once exhilarating and terrifying. Jesus warned, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt 12:36). And so redeemed hearts cry out, “Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in your sight, O Lord!”

The Latin phrase coram Deo means “before the face of God.” The refrain suggests we live inescapably in the presence of our Maker. Paul reasoned that God “is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’”(Acts 17:27–28). We all live coram Deo. But are we aware of this? Does it prevent our unwholesome speech and motivate life-giving speech?

God sees every thought.

It’s a given that we humans change our behavior when aware we’re being watched. And the reality is that the One whose full knowledge and intimate presence matter most is only “inches away” (if I may so analogize) at all times. A daydream indulging in self-righteous criticism of another, a lustful fantasy, or self-pitying envy might as well be a hologram playing out before our closest friends and family.

What’s a rightful response?

When we become aware yet again that we’ve given ground to unholy thought, it’s only right that we immediately confess and turn our minds back to what is true, lovely, and good—to God himself.

I say immediate confession because confessing sin to God is, in one sense, like apologizing to the driver of a car you just backed into—while the driver was occupying the vehicle. You both know you did it. You both saw it. Both felt it. It’d be absurd to act like nothing happened. And thus we likewise confess to God, because he knows so personally our sins against him. He was there.

But living only “inches away” from God should most of all also bring repentant believers great joy, exhilaration, and a sense of intimacy with our Lord. Because Jesus was forsaken by the Father on our behalf, God is our friend that “sticks closer than a brother” (Prov 18:24). He’s the Holy Spirit, who never forsakes or leaves our side.

Now that you’ve read this devotion, talk to the Lord about it. After all, he’s present and watching. Linger in the awareness and delight at his presence, and thereby make the most mundane moment holy. Invite him into this space, because he’s already there.

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Heavenly Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, as I live more continually aware of your intimate, terrifying, and exhilarating presence. Amen. ❖