Remembering God's Provision

God accepts me and delights in me.

“For it was always in his perfect plant to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace – for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!” Ephesians 1:5-6 (TPT)

The author of The Shack, Paul Young, says that a grandparent’s love for grandchildren has to be the closest thing on Earth to God’s love for His children. The author has a beautiful way of describing the way his heart loves grandchildren with a more accepting love than he’d been able to his children.

I don’t know if I’ve quoted Paul Young correctly, but it makes sense to me. I know that I love my children fully. I can’t imagine loving anything more than I love them and have loved them. However, I’m self-aware enough to acknowledge my love for them hasn’t always been full of acceptance and delight. I worry about the number of times they looked to me and saw fear, disappointment, or complete frustration on my face rather than acceptance and love.

Something happens to parents when they turn into grandparents. There seems to be a true understanding that life is a process, and every lesson doesn’t have to be learned in each teachable moment. Grandparents love with sheer delight and acceptance. Maybe they just love from a place of freedom rather than responsibility.

I believe God loves us that way. He chooses to love, because it is His delight. When He looks at me, He doesn’t have an expression of frustration, sadness, or disappointment. He sees me the way He sees His Son, Jesus. Watching His plans unfold in my life bring Him pleasure.

Spend some time with God today. Ask Him to tell you how He feels about you, how He sees you. Then, be quiet and listen. Remember…. God speaks with faith, hope, and love. Our enemy speaks with condemnation, fear, and shame. Be very careful who you listen to. Be even more careful whose voice you choose to remember.

Our Father, we have chosen to spend some time remembering You, Your care, Your instruction, and Your invitations. Where would we be without You? When we take time to pause and remember who You are to us, what You’ve done for us, and how You’re always inviting us into more, we can’t help but give thanks. Keep on caring, teaching, and inviting, because we don’t want to miss out on abundant life with You. Since You are always giving, we promise to remember. Amen.