September 11, 2019
Does God Really Delight In You?
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. (Psalm 147:4, NIV)
Friend to Friend
One day when my kids were little and playing with Play-Dough at the kitchen table, they enthusiastically called me over to view their creative masterpieces. I noticed that my son Hunter had used a small cookie cutter to make a bunch of blue stars. As I looked at the work of his small hands, I was reminded of a Bible verse. So I asked them, “Did you guys know that the Bible talks about stars? It says that God made all of the stars in the sky and has named each one!” (Psalm 147:4)
Without hesitation my daughter Kennedy, who was five years old at the time, excitedly responded, “Like George, Junior, and Kelsey?”
After the laugher waned we had a simple, special conversation about God’s love for us.
I really enjoy those moments of simplicity. The times when we pause to think about God’s handiwork and His Word as it applies to us. It’s astounding. Think about it. If God directed His attention to the stars and named each and every last one, how much more does He direct His attention to His children who are made in His image and purposed in His love?
It wasn’t uncommon for me to watch my children play in the backyard when they were young. While I did care what they said to one another, how they behaved, and if they were safe, I loved watching them just because they’re my kids…because I love them.
Do you know that God delights in you and loves you simply because you are His? Not because of what you do or don’t do … not because of what you say or don’t say … not because of what neighborhood you live in, title you hold or dress size you wear.
He just – flat out – loves you!
I’m so glad I don’t have to perform for God in order to be loved by Him.
You don’t either. His Word assures us of this.
““The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.” Psalm 36:5-6
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1
Like stars shine in the sky, Scripture shines God’s love into our lives. Mine and yours. Soak in and savor the wonder and beauty of being His today…God is with you, He delights in you and He loves you.
Simply because you’re His.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, Thank You for loving me just because I’m Yours. I’ve spent too many days not relishing that simple truth. Please open the eyes of my heart to how personal Your love is and give me to strength to extend that love to the people in my life.
In Jesus’s Name I pray,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Share the love. Tell your child, children or someone in your life that you love them unconditionally, regardless of what they do or say.
Write God a love letter.
More from the Girlfriend
Each GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast episode is filled with fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations that will help you know and trust God more.
These discussions encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the GRACE of Jesus in the midst of cluttered, messy days. CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes, or visit GwenSmith.net/Graceologie for more information.
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Originally published Wednesday, 11 September 2019.
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