God’s Usual Way

PSALM 119:132

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

God has a certain way with those who love His name. It does the soul good to know it, to believe it, and to rest in the assurance of it. That way is spelled out for us in our text: He is favorably inclined to bless those who love His name.

It’s incredible, and it’s true! The God who made the heavens and the earth, who created the cosmos and rules over the galaxies, governments, and granular details of our lives, is favorably disposed toward those who love Him. What could be more assuring than to know that God is for us? As the apostle Paul has expressed so wonderfully in Romans 8:38–39, I, too, am convinced that nothing—neither personal financial woes, nor a global crisis, nor persistent health concerns, nor challenges relationally, nor internal emotional struggles, nor external opposition and ridicule from others, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Indeed, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

So, my soul, do you truly love the Lord? Is He the treasure of your heart? Do you long to know Him more and to enjoy more of His fellowship? Do you love Him? If so, you can be assured that the Lord loves you. You would not love Him if he had not first loved you, as we read in 1 John 4:19. It was God’s love for you that inspired your love for Him. Yours is a responsive love, yet it is a love that is accompanied by the immeasurable blessing of His grace and mercy: “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

God’s way toward those who love Him is to bestow His grace and mercy upon them. The Lord turns toward the one who yearns for Him. He doesn’t turn away from you; He turns toward you! The Lord turns toward us with gracious kindness. Even the trials that come our way are designed to be a blessing, as Deuteronomy 8:16–17 reminds us. So we can confidently pray with the psalmist, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.”

Reflect

Do you truly love the Lord? If so, why do you love Him, and what do you love about Him? Tell Him.

Let’s Pray

Lord, I love You. I truly do. I know that I love You because You first loved me. Thank You for loving me even when I was unlovable. I pray, Lord, please turn to me and be gracious to me since that is Your way with those who love Your name. Help me and comfort me again, Lord; I am Yours.