His use of the word affection made me examine how I feel toward God. There are the standard ways we, as Christians, feel about God or at least are supposed to feel toward God. We most likely feel love and gratitude and thankfulness toward God and all He has done for us through Jesus Christ. We probably also feel some type of reverence for our Creator as the Sovereign God of the universe who controls all the details of our lives. But affection? Are we supposed to feel affection for God? The Great Judge who will one day separate the wheat from the chaff? If we love God isn't that enough? Maybe it is. But affection is different than love. Affection is a fondness and a sincere liking of someone or something for who they are. I have lots of affection in my heart for my dog, who is always happy to see me. I have affection for my child's schoolmates who are all so little and chubby and huggable. Often affection and love go hand in hand. In addition to feeling affection for my faithful dog, I love her. The same is true for my family and most of the people I consider my friends. I love them and have a great deal of affection for them. I like who they are and enjoy spending time with them. But sometimes we feel affection without love. Truthfully, I don't really feel great love for all my daughter's friends because I simply do not know them very well. They are all cute and sweet, but overpowering love is not a feeling I have towards them. Other times, we feel love but no affection for certain people. It might be with family members or friends where the relationships have soured. We love these people, and would never want anything bad or tragic to happen to them, but we do not feel much if any affection. As it relates to my relationship with God, there is no doubt that I love Him. I am grateful for all He has done for me, and have given my life over to serve Him because I love Him. But do I have affection for God? Do I like Him for who He is as He is described in the Bible. Am I fond of Him, His character, and therefore want to spend more time with Him and build a better relationship, like I do with other humans that I am fond of?
That was many years ago, and thankfully God healed my heart of that pain and anger. I love Him still, but do I have affection for Him?
Affection for God
Recently, I was sitting in church, when the worship leader said something that caught my attention. He said, "God, we give you our love, our faith, and our affection. Amen."
I can look back and see periods in my life, during times of heartbreak or crisis, when I had no affection for God at all. I did not like Him and was angry with Him. My anger sometimes morphed into bitterness, causing me to turn away from praying, reading the Scriptures, and even singing at church.
I do not have the answers yet. But as I search my heart, I realize now that having affection for God in my heart is something I need to pray for. I hope and pray that as I grow in my relationship with God that He would increase not only my love but also my affection for Him.
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Comments
Amen! Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. (Psalm 37:4)
This is great.I have never thought about this word until on this day the 10Th of May 2011.While waiting on the Lord,I was in the Spirit and heard Him say''What you need is Grace and Mercy.What I want is your Affection''.And so I began to read to try to find out what He is trying to say to me and actually to the Church of the Lord in this season and in this time.I have read through some stuff today on internet about this word,but having read yours I must say that it sheds more light than any I have read so far.
Blessings,
ND
This is great.I have never thought about this word until on this day the 10Th of May 2011.While waiting on the Lord,I was in the Spirit and heard Him say''What you need is Grace and Mercy.What I want is your Affection''.And so I began to read to try to find out what He is trying to say to me and actually to the Church of the Lord in this season and in this time.I have read through some stuff today on internet about this word,but having read yours I must say that it sheds more light than any I have read so far.
Blessings,
N
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