Sit With This Truth: God Takes Pleasure in You

Since I’m not naturally “crafty” I don’t make much with my hands. I admire those of you who sew, knit, crochet, quilt or do any of those type things!

My husband, on the other hand, enjoys woodworking. He’s built a number of pieces and is currently putting finishing touches on four bar stools that we’ll use at our kitchen counter.

I guess the closest I come to these skills is baking. At least the whole family gets to enjoy my finished product!

Typically we make things because we enjoy the process AND the end result. As I read the verse below the other night, a truth that I already knew but wanted to meditate on stuck in my mind.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” ~Revelation 4:11

There’s a similar truth in Colossians 1:16b.

“…all things were created by him, and for him…”

You and I were created for God’s pleasure. We were made for His enjoyment. He created us with our unique personalities and giftings. He delights in us because we are His creation. There’s nothing we have to do – or can do – to earn His love.

But as I thought about this verse a little more, I related this truth of God getting pleasure from us to how I receive pleasure from my relationship with my children. God is our Father, so I wanted to see how these two ideas could be related.

Here are eight ways we often receive pleasure as we parent our children.

Seeing our children get along with one another.

So maybe this doesn’t happen very often, especially in the earlier years of childhood. We only have two daughters, but whenever I’d see them playing together or being kind to one another, it would make my heart happy.

These days, our youngest certainly misses our daughter who’s off at college! They talked on the phone for over an hour one night recently, and she just mailed a care package of items she knew her older sister would enjoy.

How pleased God must be when He sees His children walking in harmony with one another! Gossip, anger, and bitterness don’t bring Him glory.

Watching our children participate in an activity they enjoy.

Whether it’s a sport or a musical competition or a pie-eating contest, we as parents are happy when our kids find something they enjoy and do well at it.

Each of us has God-given talents and abilities. How God must enjoy seeing us use those to bring Him glory!

Our children choosing to spend time with us.

When they’re little, our kids don’t really have a choice in the amount of time they spend with us! But the older they get, the more meaningful it is when our children choose to be with us. We don’t even have to be doing anything together; we could just be sitting in the same room reading our own books. But it’s nice to have them choose to be around us when they could be somewhere else.

How often do we make time just to be in God’s presence? Sometimes we may read His Word. Other times we may pray or meditate. Or we can choose to just sit and be still before Him.

The joy our children show when they like a gift we give them.

I confess to not being a great gift giver. I’m not good about noticing what someone likes and remembering their preferences when it’s time to give a gift. But occasionally my husband and I have given our girls a gift that they loved. We knew ahead of time that they were going to be so excited to receive it, and we anticipated their enthusiastic response!

What a sweet thought that our good God delights in the joy we feel when He blesses us, especially in a specific way.

When our children are thankful (without being prompted).

A “thank you” that comes after I remind my child to say it doesn’t mean nearly as much as one that just comes bubbling out of a grateful heart!

When we provide for our children, sometimes we may wonder if they just take it all for granted. I know it warms my heart when I hear the words or receive a note from one of our children that says “thank you.”

We know that it’s God’s Will for us to be thankful. [1 Thessalonians 5:18] I want my heart to be so overflowing with gratefulness for all He’s done for me that I am constantly expressing thanks to Him. Offering Him praise should be a priority for us.

When our children obey us.

Not a whole lot to say here! It’s thrilling when we ask a child to do something…and they just do it. No backtalk, no questioning, no delay.

Surely it brings God pleasure when we respond exactly that way to Him.

When our children actually want our opinion.

As our kids get older, they start making a lot of decisions for themselves. Sometimes we give unsolicited advice (ha!) but it’s rewarding when they actually come and ask for our guidance.

I wonder if sometimes we get too busy with our own agenda to take time to ask God about what we should do. Surely He delights in our asking for His wisdom.

Hearing our children say “I love you.”

Not saying it so they get something they want or avoid potential punishment, but an unsolicited “I love you.”

How often do we just say to God “I love you?” Not because we want a prayer answered or a special blessing, but just to let Him know we love Him.

So that’s the truth I’ll focus on this week…that I was created to bring pleasure to almighty God.

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