Word of the Day
Beloved, when I behold you it’s like when you look at your child and their sweetness—their beauty captures your heart, causing tears of joy to fill your eyes. Your heart swells with love, leaving you awestruck by the moment. It is your pleasure to watch their attempts as they try to be like you, that puts a smile on your face and moves you to help them accomplish the task. I am no different. I love watching you grow in Me. Your failures are more of a concern to you than Me. My concern is the motive of your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). You are such a wonder to Me as I gaze on your beauty.
I know sometimes you don’t feel like a wonder or comprehend My delight in you. No matter, I am still in awe of you My child and I intend to show you how much. I was so in love with you and wanted to be with you that I sent My Son. I knew when He found you, you would love Him and be drawn near to Me. I waited with great anticipation for you. You are definitely worth it all. You are worth all the times and years I waited for you. The greatest desire I have is for you to know how much I love you and always have.
I never grow tired or weary. I do not faint in the heat of the day and I never leave when the going gets tough. I am faithful when you are faithless and I endure to the end. So, I am here Beloved, to impart strength, faith, hope and love. I am here to encourage you to never give up because I don’t. You must remember it is not by might or power that you accomplish anything. It is by My spirit. I am delighted how you are growing in this truth.
Take comfort, courage and hope in knowing that no matter what, you’re a wonderful treasure to Me. My heart swells with pride like a father on Graduation Day when I watch you advance and mature. What may seem like little bits of progress to you looks very different to Me. It is time you took on My perspective in a whole new way. I am touching the eyes of your spirit and enabling new sight and vision according to the way I see. Look up, I am beholding you.
But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 Amplified)
Prayer
Lord, Your goodness toward me is beyond measure. Every time I think I know how much You love me, I find I don’t have a clue. Even when I fail, You look on the motive of my heart as I endeavor to walk according to Your ways. Often I am harder on myself than You would ever be. Teach me to give myself the same grace You give me. Teach me to forgive myself as You have forgiven me.
I pray that the depth of Your great love and the beauty of Your Word will settle down and abide in my heart to such a great extent that I will never despair, but like You, endure until the end. I receive Your tenacious and persevering strength and I stand. I open my heart wide and ask You to stir my spirit and heal my soul of anything prohibiting my growth in You. You never give up and neither will I. I surrender to Your Spirit and forsake my own might and power. I lay it all down and I behold You. Amen
Reflect and Journal
- What failures have you allowed to get between you and the Lover of your soul?
- The Father waited with anticipation for you and He delights in you always. How can you begin to return this expression of love in your own life in a practical way?
- Reflect on His ability to be faithful when you are faithless. How can you practically appropriate the faithfulness He offers?
- Have you devalued your progress in any area be it job, home, family, spouse, friendships or relationship with Him? In other words, are you being introspective about yourself to the point that all you see are your failures because somehow you haven’t measured up to your own expectations?
- Spend some time beholding Him and receive all He has said. Let the words of your mouth confess all He has spoken in agreement regardless of what you think or feel. In agreeing with Him you deal a deadly blow to the enemy. Even if you feel you have a close relationship with the Lord there is always room to get closer. Therefore, no matter where you are take some time right now to enjoy His presence and receive His love.