GOD REJOICES OVER YOU
For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)
I admit that this verse is hard to wrap my mind around. I’m not sure I’d ever consider myself worthy of anyone writing love songs about me, especially not God. Yet, that is what Zephaniah is conveying. You do not burden Him. Instead, He’s delighted by you! He’s singing over you with a joyful melody. This love can calm all your fears.
Imagine a newborn being cradled and sung over by his mother. The mother delights in her child not because of anything the baby has accomplished but simply because he belongs to her. I remember the joy I felt as a dad during my bedtime routine with my boys. When I held either of my sons, I would pray that they would know the love that God has for them. It’s so far beyond what I could offer, but I would spend my life trying to model it. Seeing my sons peacefully asleep comforted me in a way I hadn’t felt before.
God’s love far surpasses this. He rejoices over you and delights in you because of His great love and that those who have placed their faith in Him belong to Him. Ask God to give you a glimpse of how He sees you today.
APPLICATION: Spend a few moments today asking God to help you see how He sees you. Resist the urge to fight against His love and ask Him to give it to you freely. Thank Him that this is available to you because of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Lord, it’s hard to believe that You rejoice over me, yet Your Word says You do. Help me see myself through Your eyes. Let my heart be rooted in the confidence that I am fully loved, accepted and delighted in by You. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?