You are Always WONDERFUL!

Funny how this blog post started this morning.

I said, “Good morning!” to You, Lord, at 4:45 AM… and asked You how You were feeling today.  Then I answered for You:

“You are always WONDERFUL!”

Instantly, I “heard” that still small whisper in my spirit.  A correction as small as the change of one word.  A correction as large as the Grand Canyon.

You are always WONDERFUL, Lord… in the fullness of that word’s meaning.  Inspiring delight, pleasure or admiration.  Extremely good.  Marvelous.  Astonishing.  Admirable. Exciting wonder.

But You don’t always feel wonderful… do You, Lord?

Sometimes You grieve… intensely.  You look over all the Earth and see those You love doing the “worst of the worst” to those You love.

“Those You love”… meaning everyone on the planet.

You didn’t just tell us to love our enemies.  You modeled it for us, under the worst of circumstances.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that… anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God [?]  Or do you think that scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in us?  But He gives us more grace.”  (James 4:4-6a)

So many people look at the evil in the world and believe it is evidence that You are not loving.  Yet any parent who looks at their own wayward son or daughter courting disaster and bent on destruction knows better.

Parental love knows no limits.  Even when we feel disappointment, concern, fear and/or grief over our child’s every wrong choice.  Even when we acknowledge, support (and grieve) every right consequence for every wrong choice.

If parental love knows no limits, how much more unlimited is Your love, Abba?

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”  (Jeremiah 31:3)

So who You are, Lord — WONDERFUL — is not necessarily how You feel every moment. Maybe that’s part of what attracts us to You.

Because we all have our “good” days and “bad” days.  Our days when our “bad” is beyond rationalizing or justifying.  After all, Your standard for “acceptable” is perfection.  So not one of us would have any hope…

… apart from Your Grace.

Grace which You offer us so generously… even on our worst days.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves.  It is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

It is still early.  It will be awhile before the sun comes up.  But this New Day has already begun.

“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  (Ephesians 4:15-19)

I so want to put a smile on Your face today, Lord… because I have put a smile in Your heart! I don’t want to add to the burden of Your disappointment or grief by whatever choices I will make today.

I don’t want this, thinking it will earn me more of Your love.  How could I possibly add a drop or two to the ocean of love You already have for me?  I want this because of that ocean, Lord!

I want to love You with more than my words today.  I want to love You with my whole life. Just to love You.  And to thank You and honor You and worship You…

… because You are always WONDERFUL!  And You deserve nothing less.

Longing to love You more like You love me…

… with love that always trusts, hopes and perseveres…

… with love that never fails…

Abba’s Girl

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *