Daddy Time

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."  Acts 10:34-35

God shows no partiality.  He doesn't love some people more than others- He doesn't love some people a little less.  God loves ALL of mankind.  Every single one of us.  But did you ever look around, and it seemed like some people just had it better than you?  You hear story after story about how one particular family receives blessing after blessing, meanwhile you are really struggling, and wondering if God hears our cries for help.

God loves you just as much as the other people.  It's true!  God loves each and every one of us with the exact same measurement.  I never would have thought that possible, until I had children.  I love both of my children more than anything else in the world.  I don't love one more than the other- I don't love one of them just a little bit less when they are naughty.  My heart is filled to near bursting with love for each of them- in the exact same measurement.  But you know, there are times where it may appear that I bestow more favor on one child over the other.

There are times where it seems like Abigail will go the extra mile for me for a while.  She spends a few days trying really hard to not fight with her brother, abiding by the rules of the household, and even offering to help out with a few tasks around the house.  Or she'll want to spend some time with me doing something.  And while we're spending time together, often time little treats or tidbits will make their way to her, and to someone looking in from the outside, it may appear that I am showing less favor to Zander during the time that Abigail and I are spending together.  The truth is, she was the one who initiated the time together, and as a parent, I am completely delighted in the fact that she wants to spend some time with mommy.  So while we're spending time together, when she asks if she can have that chocolate bar, I am going to be more willing to delight her and tell her that yes, she can have that chocolate bar.  And then we'll both be delighted, because we're spending time together and she gets to enjoy something a little special.

Do I love Zander any less during this time?  Of course not.  I love him just as much as his sister.  But perhaps while she chose to spend some time with mommy, he was too busy being interested in his video games to want to spend some quality time together.  

Isn't it the exact same way with God?  God is always there, ready and waiting for us to want to spend time with Him.  He wants us to get into our Bibles and read what He has to say to us- each and every day.  He wants us to spend that quiet time with Him, and He wants us to spend that time praising Him and thanking Him for everything that is.  But sometimes, we choose something else.  Sometimes we let something distract us- a computer, video games, the golf course, or a really good novel.   God doesn't choose favorites among His faithful, but He does know who chooses to spend time with Him, and who continues to be distracted or busy.  And when we are spending time with Him, delighting in Him, and pouring out our hearts and desires, is He not just like a father to us?  And couldn't it possibly be during those moments when it's just us and Him, that we ask Him for favor with something, or we ask for His help, and because He's so delighted with us in that moment, He simply says yes to our requests?

God just wants to spend time with us.  But more importantly, He wants us to want to spend time with Him.  he doesn't want us to view it as a chore, or something to check off on our to-do list for the day.  He wants us to look forward to spending time with us.  I know that when I plan to take Abigail or Zander out for a few hours with just mommy, that they look forward to it for days.  They get so excited thinking about that one-on-one time.   That excitement and anticipation is how we should feel every single day as we approach our Heavenly Father.  It should be with delight and excitement, and a heart full of love.

God shows no partiality.  He doesn't favor one of His children over another.  But He does choose to delight in those who delight in Him.  This is something to think about.  Because many of us are going through struggles, and we seem to be asking Him the same things over and over, and it may seem like God is ignoring our pleas and our situation.  But the truth is, maybe He's just waiting for us to want more from Him than an answer to our request.  God is not a magical gumball machine that we can just put in our requests and expect a good answer to spit out when we put our request in.  God is God, and He wants our time.  He wants our hearts, and He wants us to want Him.   I truly believe that it's in those moments of one-on-one time with God, that many prayer requests and petitions are answered.  Because God loves it when His children love on Him.  He loves it when His children purpose to spend time with Him.

God wants us to want some Daddy Time.  And the more time I spend in my Bible, reading about different men and women of God who chose to spend that precious Daddy Time, the more I see that it is those who spend the time, who seem to get their prayers and requests answered.  The truth is that we are all favored of the Lord.  He loves each and every one of us, just the same.  But if we want to know His desires for us and our lives, we have to spend the time with Him.  And we have to want to spend the time with Him.  And then He will delight in us, and we will see things from a whole new perspective- as a close and personal friend of God.