Have you ever seen how giddy some parents get when their little son or daughter performs in a play or recital, receives a special award or wins a sports game? Some parents lose all their adult dignity and don’t care what others think. They jump up and down and clap and grab the child up in their arms or put them up on their shoulders. They are almost happier than the child for the accomplishment that was achieved. And the child is nearly embarrassed by their parent’s joy. Maybe you are a parent or grandparent like that. It’s okay! Don’t be ashamed about it because our Heavenly Father is like that over His children too. Zephaniah 3:17 says,

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Interestingly, that word “rejoice over you” in the Hebrew text means more than just to be happy or pleased. It literally means to spin around with wild emotions. It is exactly that same jump for joy, that clapping and cheering that parents feel over their child who performs excellently! Can you imagine the LORD GOD acting like that over you?!

The Lord God is your biggest fan. When you do well, He cheers for you. When you fall down, He cries with you. When you are afraid or stressed out, He quiets you and speaks tender words of love to comfort you. When you praise Him, He sings along with you. You are the joy of His heart, the apple of His eye. He wants you to succeed in all you do. He desires to lavish upon you all His good blessings and undeserved grace.

Rejoice with your Father today. Do not let your hands be weak. Lift them up in praise to Him today. And as you do, He has promised, “I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth…” (Zephaniah 3:20)

Delight yourself in the LORD, He is waiting with delight to give you the desires of your heart! (Psalm 37:4) Worship Him with hilarious praise, because He is even more enthused over you as you are in Him.  May you revel in His abundant and lavish grace today!

 

–dmrf