Day 19
God Yearns for You
Verse: Psalm 81:10-16 (NLT) - "For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! ... But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock."
Have you ever longed for someone to listen to you, genuinely hear you, and understand your deep love for them? If you are a parent, you know this feeling all too well. When your child insists on going their way, making choices you know will hurt them, it breaks your heart. You try to guide them, to help them avoid unnecessary pain, but they persist in their stubbornness. At some point, you recognize that you cannot make the choices for them, and you must step back, even though it hurts.
This is a glimpse of how God feels toward us.
Psalm 81:10-16 is a passionate plea from God, a Father who yearns for His children to return to Him. He rescued His people from slavery in Egypt and longed to bless them abundantly, but they chose their way instead of following Him. God’s heart breaks when we turn away, not because He needs us but because He knows what is best for us. He desires to fill our lives with good things—peace, joy, provision, and purpose—but He allows us the freedom to choose.
In this passage, we see God's deep yearning for us to trust Him, open our hearts, and receive the blessings He is eager to pour out. "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things," He promises. Wow. But instead, like stubborn children, we often insist on doing things our way, convinced we know best.
Between 18 and 27, I found myself in a season away from God, out of church, and living on my terms. It took the birth of my first child, a "preemie" weighing two pounds, to understand the folly of my ways. I recommitted my life to God with a promise never to backslide again. When we follow our path, the consequences can be painful. But God, like a loving parent, never stops yearning for us to return to Him. When we do, He meets us not with condemnation but with open arms, ready to feed us with the finest wheat and satisfy us with sweetness, even from the hardest places—"wild honey from the rock."
If you have ever made mistakes or strayed, know that God’s love for you has never wavered. He is waiting to bless you, provide for you, and guide you. But you must open your heart to Him. When we surrender our stubbornness and turn to Him, untold benefits and blessings await us.
Reflection:
· In what areas of your life are you following your desires instead of God’s guidance?
· How can you open your heart to listen more to God’s voice, trusting Him with the direction of your life?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have gone my own way, thinking I knew what was best. I hear Your call, and I open my heart to You today. Thank You for Your endless patience and love. I know You yearn for me to return to You, and I long to experience the fullness of Your blessings. Help me listen, trust, and walk in Your paths. Thank You for welcoming me back with open arms, ready to fill my life with good things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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