His thoughts about You

Just this past Sunday we celebrated Mother’s Day.  The church we attend invited all the mothers and children foreword for prayer.  Just prior, the microphone went around and every child had the opportunity to share one or two words that best described their mom.  It was so pleasant to hear their kind remarks, especially when most moms hardly felt they lived up to those descriptions. 

A thought crossed my mind, what if one of the children mentioned something they’ve frequently voiced while under discipline or correction at home, such as “You’re so mean!”  or “I’m not your friend anymore!”  

Was I glad not one child said something that would make me or another mother feel uncomfortable before the entire congregation.  And to be honest, it probably didn't even cross anyones mind. 

Why is it then that when we think of God our father and his presence, we fear that he will call us out on our worse days? We imagine what his thoughts about us might be.  Or we hesitate about approaching him in prayer, as if he’s waiting to remind us of all our past failures.  

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil…(Jer. 29:11 JKV)

Throughout the scriptures I find that even at our worst, God’s thoughts of us remain the same.  

John the Baptist was a man of faith who pointed the waiting world to Christ.  Filled with the spirt, he utters 

 “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  (John 1:29 NLT)

But then a different season of his life causes him to doubt Jesus.  While in prison he sends messengers to Jesus with the request  

Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matt.11:3 ESV)

Yet even in John’s lowest period of doubt, Jesus continues to call him great,

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. (Matt. 11:11 BSB)

 

Supporting Text

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  (Psalm 139:17-18)