Maneuvers - No. 63
I Enjoy
Being With You
Have you ever spent time with someone who acted like they didn’t want to be with you? Maybe it happened as a kid when one of your parent’s friends made their child hang out with you–and they wished they were somewhere else.
Maybe you’ve felt this way as an adult, too, at work or with friends or even with family members.
In all its forms, rejection hurts, doesn’t it?
The good news is, we never have to feel that way with Jesus. Ever.
He loves to be with us–even if we’re not saying anything clever or doing anything funny or performing anything dazzling. We can simply rest with him, and he’s delighted.
The only problem is, it can be hard to believe that he truly feels this way about us, especially if we’ve felt rejected or unwanted by others in the past.
So how do we move past that hurt?
How do we trust God to always love us and to always like being with us?
How do we get rid of this performance-based mindset that says we have to be good enough or smart enough or talented enough or attractive enough in order to earn Jesus’ enjoyment of us?
Because we don’t have to perform–not anymore. And when we realize that, we free ourselves to step further into all God has for us and wants to show us and teach us.
So right now, let’s open our hearts to believe what Holy Spirit says in this week’s message…
01.
The Message
“I like being with you, you know. Even though it can feel to you like you haven’t seen me for a while. My heart is soft toward you. I am inclined to be with you. It is my nature to want companionship with you. Don’t ascribe to fear–that reading my Word or going to church or behaving a certain way will guarantee your closeness with me. For you could do all of these things perfectly–or in a way that feels like it is perfect to you–and not be with me.
“It is possible for you to not know me, not hear me, not follow me, even when you go through experiences that promise a deeper relationship with me as the reward. If you read my words, will you let me help you hear my voice? If you are in a community with people who love me, will you expect me to show up and be with you, too?
“Don’t fake it–fake loving me. But let me help you open your heart. I know your heart. And I love you. You are beautiful to me. You are exactly what I want and precisely whom I choose to be with. Will you follow me now, to find the treasure I’ve promised you? This is the kind of life I have for you–a life open to seeing what I see, hearing what I hear, feeling what I feel. I want to surprise you with my love–and I want to show you it in a million different ways.
“Life–your life–is actually better with me, did you know? I am not going to try to convince you. I have made you to know me–and you can choose to find me, follow me, be with me, trust me, love me. I am here, right here. I delight in being your dad. Will you let me? Will you open your heart so I can be your Father? Will you open your heart so I can be your Lord?
“Do you see me? Do you see me loving you? Do you hear me? Do you hear me speaking your name? The earth is aching, aching to burst forth with my love for it. And I am aching to show you more how my love for you equips you, sustains you, revives you, redeems you, restores you, brings to life in you what would otherwise be hopeless, meaningless, dead.
Be treasured now. Be loved now. Claim your place as my beloved. Claim your seat at my table. Lean against me. Give me every burden. Let me give you my heart.”
02.
Listen
How did Holy Spirit’s words speak to you personally? How did they apply to your unique situation in this season of your life?
Let’s pull out our journals and write down a prayerful response to the Lord.
03.
Think
“Blessed are those who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face” (Psalm 89:15, ESV).
1. What experiences have influenced you to believe the lie that Jesus doesn’t enjoy being with you (or only enjoys it if you measure up to certain standards)?
2. Do you ever feel like you have to fake it when you’re with Jesus? Or that you have to pretend to love him more than you feel you do? How does that affect your relationship with him?
3. Read Matthew 11:28-30. What is Holy Spirit calling you to do with these burdens you’re carrying (past hurts, current pressures, or conflicting emotions)?
04.
Trust
It’s one thing to know Jesus loves us and enjoys time with us. It’s another thing to believe it. And sometimes, the best way to push past a lie is to practice believing the truth.
So let’s practice enjoying time with Jesus today.
Find some time today or this week to spend alone with the Lord–as if we were spending time with a best friend.
We could eat a picnic lunch at the park. Look for interesting books at the local bookstore. Explore the new mall downtown. Or grab a coffee at a hole-in-the-wall cafe.
Wherever we go, let’s imagine Jesus doing these things with us. Let’s talk with him, joke with him, eat with him, walk with him, ask him questions as if he were physically by our side. During this outing, we can read the Word of God, pray for whatever is burdening our hearts, and worship him. But let’s also make sure to practice simply being with him and enjoying his company.
(Of course, if we choose to go to a public place where we’re around other people, we may not feel comfortable speaking to the Lord out loud, but we can still commune with him in our hearts or through writing.)
During this time alone with Jesus, let’s pull out our journals and give him room to speak deeply to our hearts. To start, let’s ask Holy Spirit these questions and journal what we hear him say.
What do you enjoy most about me? What about me delights you?
In what ways have you been showing me that you love me that I haven’t been recognizing? What have I been missing lately?
What things do you want to show me about your heart, character, and truth in this season?
What new things do you want to teach me? What hard things are you using to train me and show me how to draw closer to you?
As we ask Holy Spirit these questions, let’s quiet our hearts and wait patiently for him to respond. We can trust that he will answer, perhaps all at once or perhaps slowly over time. As he does, let’s write down what he says and read it out loud. (You may even want to keep these questions and answers in your Bible so you can reflect on them later.)
And now, let’s respond to the Lord in prayer…
05.
Pray
Father, thank you for loving me and for liking me. Forgive me for the times I’ve pushed you away or misunderstood your acceptance of me. Heal my heart of past hurts and show me a new way to view our times together.
I love your closeness. Your presence is light, joy, peace, love, and pure holiness. You are so worthy…
Teach me how to walk in the light of your presence moment by moment, day by day. Show me how to enjoy life with you, not just for you.
I love you, Lord. I’m so thankful for you and all you’ve done for me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
