“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”
“He found him in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he encircled him, he cared for him,
he kept him as the apple of his eye.” Deuteronomy 7:7-9; 32:10
“Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:4
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3
“Thus said the Lord of hosts,.. he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.” Zechariah 2:8
The Bible is replete with the soothe, song, and substance of love. The Lord God on high tenderly and strongly loves His children. He created the heavens and earth in love for His people, so they could live and breathe and know and love Him. Treasuring His own as precious in worth and in His sight, He pursues and provides for, honors and holds near. He continues faithfulness from generation to generation, His heart one with those of the promise, His intent that all remain in love. (John 17:10-13; 1 John 3:1)
We are in God’s heart constantly. What place does He have in ours? If it is hard to answer, we must consider whether we grasp the extent and strength of His love for us. Taking in His expressions of love throughout the scriptures will cause its reality to soak into our souls and minds. A deep acceptance of His measureless mercy and unadulterated grace does much to make us secure, grateful, and free to give Him space in our hearts.
With whom are we sharing our heart’s affection and desire? Who or what besides the Lord takes our breath away, captures our focus, receives our best efforts? Many are the little-l lovers of this world, but so much greater, lasting, and substantial is the Lover of our souls. What can and will we do to better welcome Him to take up residence on our hearts, and from there infuse every part of our motivations, decisions, actions, lives? (Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15-16)
“Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’ns Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.” ~St. Dallán Forgaill (530-598)
Father God, may You forever be first in my heart.
As the rain and snow 