A couple of years ago, I started a new nighttime routine of going out to my front porch, looking up into the night sky to see where our Heavenly Father had placed the moon, stars, and clouds tonight. There is something different, unique, intriguing, and fantastic each night. Some nights due to cloud cover, there are no stars or moon. But even the patterns, shapes and movement of the clouds amazes me. Some nights a star or two will peek through clouds at the very moment I look up, then swiftly disappear behind the clouds. I know that seeing those stars isn’t happenstance or coincidental; it’s providential; nothing happens by accident. At least that’s what I believe about our Heavenly Father, Abba.
He knows how much I enjoy his creation, mountains, streams, animals, birds, stars, moon, and the planets. And because He desires to have an intimate relationship with you and me, I intentionally look for him to cause these moments to happen.
For example, last week, I walked past a youth soccer game attended by friends and family loudly cheering on their children, an incredible sight. However, as I walked on, just 5o yards away, to my delight, a deer stood next to a small stream, behind a curtain of trees hidden from the soccer field. Even more impressive was that it was 3:15 in the afternoon, not when deer are usually moving, making it even more impressive.
Did the deer show up just for me? I believe it did because that’s the kind of intimate relationship Abba wants with us.
Matthew’s gospel speaks to this:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7: 7-11
As a father and grandfather, I delight in surprising my children and grandchildren with unexpected gifts. Some surprises are for special occasions, and others are just to show how much I love them.
I believe Abba, our Heavenly Father does the same and so much more. Through the gift of his Son, He’s proven that he will do whatever it takes to restore our relationship with us, adopting us as His beloved sons and daughters, full heirs of the Kingdom of God.
His desire to have an intimate relationship with you and me is unmistakable, but if we don’t believe it, we don’t receive it, nor do we expect these intimate moments from him.
” If you, then, though you are sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Perhaps it’s time you reexamined your relationship expectations with Abba. Consider asking this: Father, help me desire, discover and develop a fully intimate relationship with you. Show me how.”
I hope today’s blog encouraged and blessed your day. Don’t forget to sign up to receive blogs posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additional resources, like this blog, from TransformingFamilies.org, have been developed to guide you through the restoration process of developing your heart, mind, and strength, enabling you to become the man or woman God created you to be.
I also provide one-on-one coaching; if you want to improve your relationships, let’s connect through e-mail at ‘rturner@transformingfamilies.org’. My hope for you is that God will transform you from being bruised or broken to an abundantly blessed child of God through these blogs, references, and resources.
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“Rogue” is uniquely designed to transform relationships for men like you by eliminating relational barriers and intimacy ignorance that causes you to feel sexually dependent, isolated, or lonely. What you discover in Rogue will restore an authentic intimacy that will equip you to forge intimate relationships that last a lifetime.
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