"God, I love this..."
This past weekend, our family traveled south to Pigeon Forge, TN to meet up and spend some time with our North Carolina family. We were blessed by my company with tickets to Dollywood, and we are never a family to turn down a good trip, esp. when there are roller coasters involved. Friday was a great day! We ran ourselves ragged hopping from coaster to coaster and having a blast! One particular coaster we were in line for only accommodates riders by 1 or 2's, and by the way the numbers worked out, I would be riding this one alone. While riding the Wild Eagle in a car by myself, (Wild Eagle) being one of my favorites at Dollywood, I began to worship God and tell Him about all the fun I was having. "God, I love this! I am having so much fun and I wanted to tell you about it! Thank You so much!"
An adult riding all alone is not a Kodak moment I wanted kept... but oh well!
In our modern day, to many people, our Heavenly Father is nothing more than e911. While it is true that He is "our very present help in time of trouble,"(Psalm 46:1) our Father God wants to be more than simply a way out of difficult and uncomfortable places. Remember in the beginning, God came down and walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden when there was NO sin, NO difficulty and NO trouble in the world. Also remember in the end, there will be NO trials, NO tears, and NO death! (Hallelujah to God!) The God of Eternity wants to know you! He wants to walk with you! He wants to hear from you, not just in trial and difficulty and need. He wants to share in times of fun and pleasure. Tell Him when you are happy. Tell Him about the things you enjoy. It's called relationship! Worship Him in times of blessing. David said, "I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me." (Psalms 13:6) I know for me, when I share with God in my joy, worship and praise to God is a natural result, and Scripture tells us that God inhabits or dwells in our praises (Psalm 22:3). It's GOOD to have God around! It's BENEFICIAL to have Him close! He loves us and wants to be where we are. This is a good thing!
“Tell Him about the things you enjoy. It’s called relationship.”
How would I feel as a father to my children, if all they wanted to talk with me about was what they wanted me to buy them? How would I feel if they only wanted me around when the WiFi was out? Would I enjoy hearing only about their problems? NO! I want to know what makes them happy and sad, what brings them pain and what brings them pleasure! I want to know them. God wants to know us! YES, cry out to Him in your difficulty, trust Him with your needs, but also speak with Him with great thanksgiving when you are filled with Joy! He wants to hear about it all!