Daily Worship

Thank you for attentive love

Norah Summers February 03, 2025 8 1
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Jeremiah 1: 4-10 (GNT)

4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”

6 I answered, “Sovereign Lord, I don't know how to speak; I am too young.”

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

9 Then the Lord reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, “Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak. 10 Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Here is young Jeremiah – am I alone in usually picturing the prophets of old as, shall we say, more mature persons? But they must have started their career some time!

So, young Jeremiah — hesitant, inexperienced, unsure if he can do what he is supposed to do. 

So, God – attentive, caring, listening, ready to reassure, ready to bless.

When I was in Sunday School we used to sing a hymn ‘God is always near me’. Much of its time, the tone is rather one of admonishment, reminding us children to mind our Ps and Qs because God was always listening. But I like to take that first little phrase as simple encouragement, and how true I have found it to be! Through what is now rather a long life, I have been aware of its promise of love, of comfort, of reassurance – and yes of course, of occasional nudges to do right, to love where it might be challenging, to remember that wherever I am, whatever I am doing, God is always near me.

Discover more about God’s attentive love in Psalm 139: 1-18.

 

Prayer:

 

Loving God, thank you for your attentive love.

You are never too busy to turn to us, 

to listen to our problems and our grouses, 

to assure us that you are always near us,

to encourage us,

to enable us,

just to love us.

 

Loving God, accept our gratitude and our love.