Devotional

“We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.” —Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel 

 Isn’t the love of God amazing? We simply cannot fathom how deep it runs — how high it soars!  

 Zephaniah 3:17 says this: 

 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  

Every phrase in this verse should encourage your heart. These truths are antidotes for loneliness, doubt, depression, and despair:  

He is with you … always. 
It should make a daily difference in your heart and mind to recognize that God is not just some distant “cosmic force.” He is close, in your midst — near enough to support you, assist you, and strengthen you.  

He will fight … and win the battle for you.
God is the all-conquering Hero. He overcame death and the grave.  

 What do you need to be saved from today? What trial? What hurt? What regret of the past? What temptation? He does not send you into battle by yourself, unarmed. Call on the name of the warrior who has never faced defeat, pull on the armor He has reserved for you, and fight your battle with victory in mind. 

 He delights in you.
At work, you might feel devalued, replaceable. At home, it might not be much better. So, focus on what God thinks: He rejoices over you with joy! You are His masterpiece, fashioned in His image. He’s showered you with love and filled your heart with purpose. 

And here’s the best part: His delight in you is not contingent on your actions or attitudes. God loves you regardless!  

He sings over you.
What an amazing truth! God sings a love song over you. Not because of the way you look, your ability to raise children, clean a house, or get promoted at work. His song is not even based on the amount of service you perform for Him.  

 He sings over you out of His great love. He really delights in you!  

My prayer this week—Lord, help me to recognize and rest in your love for me! Then, let it overflow from my heart to others, in words of kindness and actions of compassion. Thank you for your wonderful love, Lord!