This afternoon I went for a stroll with my granddaughter, Nova. As we were walking, I was thinking about the predictable pattern of our relationship. Every time I see her, even while she is living in my house, I do more or less the same things, in the same order.
When I first see her, I smile. Then, I move towards her in love. Next, I demonstrate my affection for her with a hug or a kiss or most likely a lot of both of them and as I sit her in my lap! I see myself as squeezing as much love into her little body as she can contain. After that we talk, she babbles something I don’t understand and I speak to her identity, “Hello beautiful, how are you today?” “Hi princess, I love you.” If she’s with me for a little while, we play games or read books, and I try to teach her a few new words.
Why am I telling you all this? Because, I’d like to suggest that this is actually the same way our Father relates to us, whenever we draw near to Him.
The first thing He does is smile. Then He moves towards us in love. Next, He demonstrates His affection for us with a gentle hand on the head or an arm around our shoulders, or even picking us up and sitting us in His lap. However, He shows it, He is squeezing as much love into me as I can handle. After that, I say a few things which are largely incoherent nonsense and then He speaks to my identity as His son. If I stick around for a little while, we might read together and He gently teaches me a few things.
There is no striving in this place, not for Nova with me, not for me with my Papa.
1 John 3:1 Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. (TPT)