Isaiah 43:1&4
…I have summoned you by name; you are mine…
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you….
My time here in Africa has taught/shown me The Fathers constant pursuit of us and how deeply He loves His children.
At El Shaddai we had buddies that we hung out with everyday from 3-5. My buddy (David) is a very strong headed little boy who knows what he wants and how to get it. Well most days when I went up to go hang out with him I would ask the kids where he was and they would say he is in the house (we are not allowed to go in the house) so then I would end up hanging out with a different child until his or her buddy came and then I would leave because David wouldn’t come outside. Then one day our team was on cooking and cleaning for the day so I wasn’t able to go to buddy time, and the next day I saw David and he was like “how come you weren’t here for buddy time!?” He was not happy with me and it took a bit of sweet talking for him to finally hang out with me ;). I thought to myself ah so he does notice when I am here or not. So from then on I would stay up there whether he was there or not. One day I walked up, found David, and asked him if he wanted to play a game or something and he said “no go away I am playing.” I was taken aback and in that moment I thought why am I even trying with him? He constantly pushes me away, won’t come outside when I am here, but notices when I am here or not. Then it hit me, this is like our relationship with God. God is ALWAYS there, always wanting to “hang” out with us, talk to us and with us, however how many times have I constantly rejected Him, said “oh I’m too busy”, “maybe another time God”. Instead of Him getting fed up with us He is patient, always waiting right there for us, even if He knows we won’t “come outside” today, He still comes, waiting on us, constantly pursuing us.
Just recently a few of us went to a carepoint that is about a 20 minute walk from where we live. As we approached the gate children came running to us with there arms wide open ready for someone to shower love on them. As I looked down, their faces were turned up toward me, their eyes bright with love and adoration. Of course we all know that whenever a child comes to you with there arms open wide they want to be picked up and held. When these precious children run to me with there arms open wide, ready for love and acceptance, I can’t imagine turning my back on them or rejecting them. I immediately want to grab all of them up and give them the love and attention they are hungry for. This is our Heavenly Father with us. All we have to do is surrender ourselves to Him, run to Him with arms stretched wide and He will not hesitate or turn His back on us. He will welcome us and give us the love we are hungry for. I can’t even imagine how deep His love is for us if I love these little children so much already and I don’t even know them, His love for us can’t even be comprehended.
As you go throughout your day just remember that our Father loves you so deeply you can’t even fathom it and no matter what you have done or how many times you have rejected or turned your back on Him, He is always there and is constantly pursuing you.
