I have had a hard time imagining that God wants to spend time with me. It makes sense that I desire to be with Him, because He’s God. I understand my pursuit of Him, but that He would desire to be with me? Not so much. Not that I don’t believe in my relationship with the Father, because I do, deeply. But my concept of His longing to be with me is askew. “He really yearns to be with me?” Guess what is OFF in this scenario? My heart.
Come Spend Time With Me
We spoke about this on the podcast going up this coming weekend. God spoke a word to Martha and she called to tell me what He said. On a recent writing trip, God said He just wanted to spend time with her. He wasn’t looking for her to produce, or work, or write, or even to pray. He just wanted to be with her. When she told me this, it shocked me because it exposed a misconception I have about God. God desires to spend time with me? This reality is beyond my normal realm of belief, but I am desperate to lose these unworthy thoughts. I will believe!
So what is it that makes us think God doesn’t long to just sit with us? At the bottom of this train of thought, it’s because we’re thinking only about self. Me, me, me. “How could the Creator of the universe desire to be with me?” Fill in your blank: I’m too…guilty, fearful, too smart to believe in that stuff, I’m only involved with the Bible and don’t believe in that emotional hokum. Or maybe it’s just, “I’m not ready yet.” None of these take in God’s preferences at all. They don’t account for any of His thoughts or feelings, just mine. I am the center of this train-wreck of thought. Yuk!
His Desire to Spend Time with Me
As Mercy Me sings, “Believe it or not, life is not apparently about me anyways.” If my life here is to satisfy my Creator, and this is my reason for being, why wouldn’t He desire to just sit with me, spend time with me? Well, I am choosing not to foster these thoughts any longer. I am going to believe Him in how He wants to express Himself. I am going to allow God to speak for Himself, rather than speaking for Him.
Yesterday Jennifer reminded me of a post I wrote in 2016. After I went back and read it, I realized it was right in line with this post. At that time, I was questioning whether God looked at me (His creation) the way I look at my paintings (my creative works). Specifically, I wondered if God stares at me fondly, treasuring me and delighting in my process, the life of His creation. I think He’s continually giving me an answer.
His Desire
There’s the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder of sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.
—George Beverly Shea
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Revelation 21:3 NIV
Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psalm 40:5 NKJV
John and Jennifer, I’m catching up on reading the blog and I just want to thank you both for persisting on this all important theme. Sorry for being so late with a comment here, but I just heard a message on how God’s love longs for intimacy with us. It rocked me. If you get time to listen to it, I pray it blesses you too! Love to you both! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wy8EkK2tLw
I raise my hand, John — I’ve been in that “train wreck of thought” too. Not until you brought this up, did I consider Father wanting to spend time with me. But then I thought about the beginning: Father’s desire toward Adam and Eve; how He walked with them, called their name after they sinned and from that time on, worked throughout time to bring humanity back to a place of intimate communion. John, it’s like He gave the ultimate Gift so He could walk with us in the garden of our lives. And just as Father called out to… Read more »
Thank you for this Pauline. Your comment reminds me of the song “In the Garden.” So glad this post has encouraged you! Bless you Pauline!
https://youtu.be/9aIhta9exts
I was singing Andre Crouch song this morning. I don’t know why Jesus loves me, oh but I’m glad, so glad He did. He just gets closer and closer all the time. Sometimes my longing to be with Him is so strong all I can do is weep and yearn. Love to all
Oh wow! Perfect! Love you very much Wanda!
His amazing Love! Hosea 11:3-4, “Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them in My arms [nurturing the young nation];
But they did not know that I healed them”. It took me a long time to hold still for that “hug” that will not let go. So undeservered, yet He loves us!!
Without a doubt! Holding still for that hug reminds me of my dog Fritz. He has so much energy and excitement that He quivers like he is about to explode when you pet him. He wants it but can’t contain himself. The second you stop petting him he is off running like he’s found gold. Hmmmm, wonder if the Lord had a message for me in giving me this Britney Spaniel…I think so. ?
Song of Solomon 7:10 NKJV I am my beloved’s, And his desire is toward me.
That is the scripture on my ring. Not I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine rather than I am my beloved’s and His desire is towards me. Nice Bruce!
Unfathomable, isn’t it!? That the God who created ALL for His good pleasure also created me – for His good pleasure. If He hadn’t wanted to spend time with you and I – we wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t have created us. But here we are! We would never doubt the love the Father has for the Son… “that they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they [He’s talking about us!!!] also may be one in Us…” John 17:21 (brackets mine) …Jesus is praying for us! So why would I doubt… Read more »
Amen Tammy! Thank you for accepting the invitation. Unfathomable is the word! And thank you for sharing John 17. It always gets me. What a reality, what a truth! Oneness! Love you muches.