BE-Gratitudes: 30 Days of Positive Attitudes – Cherished
November 10th, 2021
Day Ten: CHERISHED
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, ‘Do this because you are a people set apart as holy to God, your God. God, your God, chose you out of all the people of the Earth for Himself as a cherished, personal treasure. God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise He made to your ancestors. God stepped in and mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you from the iron grip of Pharoah king of Egypt. Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps His covenant of loyal love with those who love Him and observe His commandments for a thousand generations.’ (MSG)
I was really a wreck. A life kind of hovering close above the toilet. I couldn’t fathom any way forward, could see no path back. Stuck, I think the world calls it. I called it desperate.
I pictured the wreckage of a car wrapped around a tree, or better yet, crumpled at the bottom of a ravine. Almost seemed it would be the only way out, a great escape. It was time to pay the piper and I was out of payment. I dreamed of the relief that came from giving up, giving in; a bliss born of cowardice and nothingness.
Then Your voice came, strong yet gentle; Your heart beating for me. “Cherished Daughter,” You whispered, “what Father wants this (wreckage) for His cherished daughter? I love you and I long to rescue you.” The sound of Your love seeped through the cracks in my resolve, breaking down my defenses, as I listened closer.
“I will bring you out of the deep pit you have found yourself in; I will set you on a higher ground; I will place a new word on your lips. I will do all this for you, cherished Daughter, but you must do something for me in order for it to work.” I held my breath; like everyone else, impossible requirements for me to follow, just out of my reach, almost attainable freedom but I would just be unable to stretch that far, so great would the demand in exchange be.
“You must trust Me, be obedient, and let go.” I heard the smile in Your words. That’s it? Wait a minute; surely there is a catch somewhere! As if You could read my thoughts, You murmured, “That’s all. That’s it. Really, it is an enigma, quite simple but also quite difficult. Trust Me. Be obedient. Let go. I will do the rest. I will set you free.”
That was two-and-a-half years ago. He did all of it, and even way more. A complete life of freedom this cherished Daughter lives is beyond words in the human language. He is my Rescuer, my Redeemer, the Lifter of my head, O Abba Father, how grateful I am to You for saving me!
