It was an unusual phone call from my son, Steven. He was in his second week of his second semester, his third year in college.
“Hey mom, this is Steven. I just wanted to call and say ‘hello.’ I haven’t talked to you in a while and wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Hey bud,” I replied. “How are you? How are your classes? Do you like your professors?”
We volleyed questions and answers back and forth. It was a nice intro, and I kept waiting for the request such as, “could you put an extra $50 in my account for another Philosophy book I had to buy,” or “does my car insurance go up if I get a parking ticket.” But those types of questions never came.
“Mom, how are you doing?”
“What have you been up to this week?”
“How’s the new book coming?”
After about fifteen minutes into our conversation, I reluctantly asked, “Is everything OK?”
“Yea,” he chuckled. “I just called to talk. Are you surprised?”
“Sort of,” I sheepishly admitted. “But it is a wonderful surprise!”
A few minutes later we said our “goodbyes” and “I love yous.” Then I sat there and savored the joy of knowing that my son had called…not because he needed anything or had a problem to solve, but just because he loved me.
Then I heard a message from God deep within my heart. Let me paraphrase it for you.
“Sharon, I want you to remember how you feel at this moment. Your son, whom you love more than life itself, has just called to talk to you…not because he wanted anything, not because he had a question about a decision or a detail of life, not because he had a problem to solve. He called just to talk, simply to see what was on your heart—because he loves you. That, my child whom I love more than life, is the same way I feel when you talk to me—not because you want something, not because you have a question about a decision or a detail of life, not because you have a problem to solve. That is how I feel when you talk to Me simply because you love Me.”
God says to us in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (NIV).
Another translation says it this way: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish” (AMP).
It is an amazing truth that the Creator of the entire universe wants to hear from you, talk to you, and has answers for you. He won’t ghost you, put you on hold, or let your call go to voicemail. He will answer. He’s been waiting for your call all day long.
Dear Father, I love You. That’s really all I want to say today. I love You, not because of what You do, but because of who You are…my Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Have you told God you love Him lately? If not, one of the best ways to praise Him is to use the names of God found in the Bible. Let’s look at a few. I’ll give you the Hebrew name found in the Old Testament and the English translation.
“God we praise you that you are:
- Jehovah – The Self Existent One who had no creator and was before all things (Exodus 3:13-16)
- Jehovah-Raah – The Lord my Shepherd who takes care of me (Psalm 23)
- Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord will Provide who provides for my every need (Genesis 22:8, 14)
- Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord is Peace who gives peace beyond human understanding (Judges 6:24)
- Jehovah-Rophe – The Lord Who Heals physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Exodus 15:26)
- Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness who cleanses us from all our sin (Jeremiah 23:6)
- Jehovah-Shammah – The Lord is There and Who will never leave us alone (Ezekiel 48:35)
- Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord my Banner Who brings victory in all my spiritual battles (Exodus 17:15)
- Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – The Lord who Sanctifies and sets us apart (Leviticus 20:8)
I have two resources to help you know God better. Knowing God by Name—written by myself, Gwen, and Mary of the GiG team—is filled with devotions about the various names of God. I also have a laminated card filled front and back with names of God that is a powerful resource for your prayer time.
© 2023 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
Comments 18
That was so beautiful thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this beautiful picture of God’s heart toward us! I don’t have children but can totally relate to this example and I LOVE IT! I’m off to call my daddy just to say hi and tell him I love him and hear what’s on his mind. Blessings to you!
Thank you, Sharon! I needed this reminder today to stop and actually talk to my Father! To tell him how much I love him! Thanks again for sharing!
Yes, it spoke that time also especially after the storm. Today is a beautiful blue sky with no clouds, and God is still the same God he was 2 weeks ago as the tornado’s ripped through our area here in Little Rock leaving so much damage and hurting people. Having worked with our church to assist these, l have been humbled how so many people from all around who have donated items and their time to come and serve those hurting. We do have an all powerful God who knows our hearts but still wants to hear from us individually. Thank you Lord for being patient when we don’t even recognize you are waiting to hear from us.
Yes, it spoke that time also especially after the storm. Today is a beautiful blue sky with no clouds, and God is still the same God he was 2 weeks ago as the tornado’s ripped through our area here in Little Rock leaving so much damage and hurting people. Having worked with our church to assist these, l have been humbled how so many lpeople from all around who have donated items and their time to come and serve those hurting. We do have an all powerful God who knows our hearts but still wants to hear from us individually. Thank you Lord for being patient when we don’t even recognize you are waiting to hear from us.
This devotion is amazing. I just went through this with my daughters thinking how they won’t call me unless they need something or I call them first. I was just thinking it would be nice if they just call me and asked me if I’m alright or if I need anything. Then I thought: that’s what GOD OUR FATHER would like from us HIS DAUGHTERS. I thought to myself: Susie, you do the same thing to GOD. HE CALLS but you are to busy to talk or you have other things that are more important in your life to take care of or Just to talk with HIM because HE is Always there for us and HE wants our hearts to desire HIM not to just keep telling HIM our problems or asking for something but telling HIM that we Love HIM.
HE IS WAITING PATIENTLY FOR US TO CALL HIM AND TELL HIM HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM
I really needed this reminder today. Thank you. ❤️🙏🏻
Thank you, I needed that, to be reminded.
Such a good, thought provoking devotional!!!
I want to thank you wholeheartedly for this devotion! So simple yet so profound! God has been so good to me! I am so very grateful for the share!
Loved this!! Very powerful illustration for me. I’m thankful that God is patient with us and waiting for us just to call on His name just because we love Him. I long for my out-of-town kids to call more frequently and think I need to call them more frequently just to talk as well. I’ve been feeling disconnected in so many ways lately and this was very good for me to hear this to remind me to reach out to others and to God – take the first step just to say hi.
This devotional was touching and brought tears to my eyes as I thought of how much God loves me and how I should just talk with him and praise him not only when there is a need or he has done something but just because of who he is in my life.
Thank you for your beautiful writing. I loved the Bible study on When you don’t like your story it was a blessing in my life. May God continue to use and bless you!!
Thank You for the reminder
I Love You (Daddy)God
Thankyou so much… a great devotional. My younger son has just begun to respond like this, and l am training myself to do the same for God. So nice to know it’s not just me! 🙂❤
Praise God from whom ALL Blessings flow! What a wonderful way to start my day. I think God for all of you who share your hearts and love of God’s word. I love my Abba Father!
Your devotion reminds us to act towards our Heavenly Father as we desire our children and best friends to act to us. We are good listeners with the wants and whinings, but our hearts flood with love and affection when they call just to say, “You were on my mind – I love you.”
Thank you for this devoyion.
This is beautiful , I was really blessed by This. Thank You