Thinking About God at Every Moment

Yael Eckstein  |  February 9, 2022

This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. — Exodus 29:38-39

Each week in synagogue, Jews read through the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy. This week’s Torah portion is Tetzaveh, which means “contributions,” from Exodus 27:20-30:10.

It is very common for synagogues to decorate the ark at the front of the sanctuary where the Torah scrolls are kept with verses from the Bible. You’ll see large letters just above the curtain and doors to the ark, and one verse is commonly found: “I keep my eyes always on the LORD” (Psalm 16:8).

Recently, I was in a synagogue where this verse was displayed, and it got me thinking. As beautiful and important as this sentiment might be, is it truly possible to think about God always? Is it realistic? I mean, of course, we know that God is everywhere and, in all things, but how is it possible to go about our daily lives while thinking about God at every moment? Is it even desirable?

For example, when I am spending time with one of my children or with my husband, am I really supposed to be thinking about God being there right in front of me all the time, rather than giving the person I am with my full attention? If we were always truly aware of God’s presence, would we be able to get anything done? Is this what God wants?

The Hebrew word for “always,” tamid, in this verse in Psalms also appears in this week’s Torah portion. And I think it may help answer our question.

Thinking About God at Every Moment

Our verses today describe the instructions for bringing the daily offerings in the temple, “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.”

Here tamid is translated as “regularly,” but the truth is that tamid really means “always.” So even though these offerings were brought once in the morning and once at the end of the day, the Bible calls them tamid, as though they were being offered to God at all times.

Maybe this is what the psalmist meant as well. We must place God before us at the beginning and end of every day. Awareness of God must frame our lives so that He is never far from our minds. In this way, we can keep our eyes “always on the LORD” and think about God at every moment.

Your Turn:

Make time at the start and end of each day to speak with God and embrace His presence in your life.