“I enjoy you!” one of our team, who is from Spain, and English is her second language, said to her mentor, as they said goodbye for Christmas.
I thought this was brilliant. “I enjoy you!” – I wanted to go around saying it to all the people in my life that I enjoy being around but I would never have previously thought to say it to. It is so unrestrained and expressive, a phrase we wouldn’t normally use, but how powerful these three words together are. Imagine if someone said to you today, “I enjoy you”. How special you would feel!
Don’t we all want to be enjoyed, appreciated, valued, liked? I guess it is a longing in all our hearts which comes from much deeper questions within that niggle away unanswered, questions such as, “Am I lovable?”, “Am I OK?”, “Am I special?”, “Am I seen?” Isn’t it incredible that, today, God says to me and you that, not only does He enjoy us, but He delights in us. With today’s scripture He answers those questions, deep in our hearts. Amazing!
We may not feel there is much delightful about who we are, but God, who made us and knit us together, doesn’t judge and view us the way we judge and view ourselves. He looks right at the true place of who we are, the person He made and whom He knows intimately. We are His sons and daughters, and He placed His beauty, His creativity, and His delightfulness within us. Whether we feel like it or not, we are His sons and His daughters.
If this is true, which Scripture says it is, then what peace and rest fills my heart as I ponder it! It means I don’t have to strive or earn or prove anything. Yes, He still wants to work in my life, bring more of His healing and challenge my sinful or carnal ways, but today, just as I am, I am loved. Today, with all I still have in my heart which needs sorting, I am delighted in. Today, even though I can’t be perfect, I am enjoyed.
Why not ask the Lord today to show you if this is true? Ask your Father God if, beyond all the pain you carry and all the wrong things you have done and continue to do, He delights in you. Does He enjoy you?
For the Lord you God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17, NLT
Cath Taylor is the Assistant UK National Director. She joined the Ellel Grange team back in 1992 and has served with Ellel Ministries in Australia, the USA and the UK. Cath is married to Andy and they have three sons; Jake, Ben and Isaac.
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