Omniscience is both a comforting and scary thought. God knows everything there is to know. Which means I can't hide anything – neither my sins nor my worries; my need for forgiveness nor for reassurance.
It also means my motives which to me usually seem sound, but in reality are mixed and complex, are understood and seen with the scrutinising gaze of holy love.
But given God's omnisicience, I'm glad we pray to a God who is not slow on the uptake.
Just as well. Here's one of Bernard of Clairvaux's prayers. The kind of prayer even the Lord might ask should be said twice, just to be sure He got it the first time!
Lord, you are good to the soul that seeks you.
What are you then to the soul that finds?
But this is the most wonderful thing,
that no one can seek you who has not already found you.
You therefore seek to be found so that you might be sought for,
sought so that you may be found. Amen
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