Encouragement for Today - July 10, 2007
When God Stoops
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” Psalm 14:2 (NIV)
Devotion:
My four-year-old will often buzz by me in a flurry of motion—usually running too fast while fleeing the scene of a crime or carrying a sharp object. If I yell after him some form of admonishment, he rarely hears it. I have found that for my discipline and instruction to have the most effect, I must stop what I am doing, stoop down on his level, and look him in the eye. When I do this, he and I can connect on a meaningful level.
The other day I came across Genesis 6:8, which says, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” A note in my study Bible informs me that the word “favor” in this verse is from a root meaning “to bend or stoop.” Basically this verse points out that God stooped down from His place on high to offer His favor to a lowly human who didn’t really deserve it and could never earn it. God was condescending, which means “to deal as an equal with one of inferior rank.”
This idea is mentioned again in Zechariah 12:10, when God promises to “pour out… a spirit of grace and supplication” on the people. The image painted in this verse is of God, seated on His throne in heaven, pouring down His grace upon His people. Just like I must look down to see my precious child, God must look down upon us to truly see us. The God of the Universe is willing to stoop down to connect with us. I don’t want to lose sight of His willingness to do that for me. I don’t want to be too busy and active—like my four-year-old—to hear His voice. How humbling it is to know that even when I do buzz by Him, unaware that He is calling out to me, He is still willing to pause in the midst of all His creation to offer me His favor - the grace and love He so freely pours out.
The other day, as my son was running out the door for a visit with his grandmother, I stopped him to tell him goodbye. I stooped down and looked him in the eye. I drank in the sight of his precious face and focused intently on him as I told him I loved him. This moment reminded me again that God loves me enough to stoop. I hope you will remember today that He loves you that much, too.
Dear Lord, help me to hear Your voice. Help me to remember how much You love me, and how much You long to connect with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks
by Priscilla Shirer
He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear from God by Priscilla Shirer
Application Steps:
Write down what is keeping you from hearing God’s voice right now. What can you do to remove those things from your life? Take steps to do so today. If you are in a time of stress and feel overwhelmed, commit to pray more often and more fervently than ever before. Rest in the fact that God in heaven will stoop down to connect with you, His precious child.
Reflections:
How does your view of God keep you from seeing Him as a loving God who would stoop down in order to connect with you?
What can you do to refocus your view?
How much does knowing His love mean to you?
Power Verses:
II Samuel 22:36, “You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.” (NIV)
Psalm 113:5-6, “Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?” (NIV)
Isaiah 57:15, “For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite’.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G,
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
