True North: Because He Loves You Sample

Day 1: Relationship

"Hold your breath, Daddy, you're underwater." The voice of my daughter at four years old was cuter than I could resist, so I held my breath and followed along. I puffed out my cheeks and crawled across the living room floor like it was the bottom of the ocean. Ten years previous, I would not have forecasted my Saturday afternoon to look like that at all, but I wouldn't have changed it in any way.

I love my daughter so much that I would do just about anything she asks. I'd do anything ridiculous or silly, big or small, inside or outside. I'm just happy to be included in what she's doing.—because I love her.

Doesn't God want to be involved in your life? Doesn't He want to spend time with you? I believe so many of us approach life like it's all up to us—like we're the only ones in the play—when God is waiting for His cue. Sure, I would have loved to watch Sawyer swim across the living room floor, but it was about a thousand times better to swim with her, to be a part of it, to live it out with her.

We are God's workmanship. He created us so that we can walk in a relationship with him. People don't have kids so they have somebody to pick up after. Instead, people have children out of an overflow of love for one another. We are God's children, and it is out of an overflow of his love for us that He created us and this world we live in. It only makes sense that we invite Him into our “play,” into our lives. In John 15, Jesus tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus wants to be connected with us and have a wonderful relationship with us.

We can include him in all areas of our lives. Our jobs - include Him. Our families - include Him. Our exercise - include Him. Our recreation - include Him. He'll meet us right where we are, even if it’s something really silly, like holding His breath and swimming across the living room floor. He'll do it because He loves you.