As a young adult who is about 900 miles away from family, calling my mom is something I do frequently. If I am completely honest, I most often call her throughout the week when I have some sort of problem or minor inconvenience, I need help with. It usually sounds something like: “Hey Mom! Yeah, I’m doing good. I just had a question. My throat was kind of scratchy this morning and I can’t figure out if I’m sick or if it’s allergies. Okay yeah, I’ll make some hot tea. Okay, sounds good, thanks! Love you!”
Just a quick chat, and then we’re on our merry way. Not surprisingly, these aren’t exactly her favorite types of calls, and they’re truthfully not mine, either. Because while of course, she wants to help me; she also wants to know what else is going on in my life because she loves me, and I want to know what’s going on in hers because I love her too. So rather than the 5-minute, “I need help” calls (which still serve an important role in my life), my mom and I would both agree that our favorite types of calls are when we can both just sit down & catch up.
God, being our Father, is no different. While He does want to help me when I call on Him, and He will, He also wants me to spend time with Him because He loves me. And I should want to because I love Him, too. He says plainly in Revelation 3:20, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” That truth alone fills me with so much awe, that the most wonderful, perfect, & powerful King of Kings wants to have a relationship with us! This week, I hope you are reminded that while Jesus is a God of sovereignty and authority, He is also a personal God. He is not dead but living! He is not distant from us but near in Spirit! He loves us like a parent loves their child, but in ways that are far greater.
When we fall into the rhythm of life, it’s easy to only have those “I need help” calls or those 5-minute chats before bed. But by simply telling Him about our day, meditating on His word, and resting in His presence, we are developing a much deeper & more intimate relationship with Him. This is what brings Him joy and what fills us with joy all the more.