What does God think of you?

On pp. 134-135 of "Wild at Heart," John Eldredge encourages readers to ask God what He thinks of them. . .and to stay until an answer comes. Eldredge recalls when he had a conversation with God after a trip to England in which Eldredge did four conferences:

It was a brutal trip and I was under a great deal of spiritual attack. What a relief it was to slump into my seat and catch my plane home. Tired to the bone, spent and beat up, I needed to hear words from my Father. So I began to pour my heart out to him in my journal.

What of me, dear Lord? Are you pleased? What did you see? I am sorry that I have to ask, wishing I knew without asking. Fear, I suppose, makes me doubt. Still, I yearn to hear from you -- a word, or image, a name or even just a glance from you.

This is what I heard:

You are Henry V after Agincourt. . .the man in the arena, whose face is covered with blood and sweat and dust, who strove valiantly. . .a great warrior. . .yes, even Maximus.

And then

You are my friend.

God loves you. When He sees you, He sees the one that He created in love.

God of strength

As Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength." On page 130 of "Boyhood and Beyond," author Bob Schultz reflects on God's strength:

God has done many things to show His strength to me. One stands out above them all: Throughout my life, God has shown His strength to me by faithfully drawing me out of bed each morning that He might enjoy a relationship with me.

Some people see early rising as a difficult discipline reserved for the hardy, self-controlled person. For me, it isn't a discipline; it is a gift from a living God to a weak man.

I was taught that a Christian young man was supposed to get up early in the morning and have devotions. It was my duty. It may have been my duty, but it was also my struggle. One morning, when I was about eighteen years old, I had a particularly difficult fight and was losing. I tried and tried to get up, but I couldn't do it.

Then I heard God's voice in my heart saying, 'Quit trying -- and get up.'

It startled me. Not that I would hear God's voice in my heart, but that the idea was so simple. I quit trying and got up!

Getting up to spend the morning with God is an excellent way to start the day.