Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion was written by Jessica Gerth.

Our scripture reading is from Zephaniah 3:17 ESV.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah‬ 3:17 ESV).

The bat made contact, and the ball flew into the outfield. But before he hurried to his base, he turned to look for me in the stands. Before my little boy could fully experience the joy of his first-ever base hit, he had to make sure I saw and was cheering him on!

What my children don’t realize, and won’t until they become parents themselves, is that they bring me joy simply by existing. Before they could play ball, talk, or even smile back at me, I felt immeasurable love and enjoyment for them.

My dad has always been a cheerful man and as his children, we never doubted that he delighted in being our father. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to grasp how God could enjoy me as He sees my failures, weaknesses, and sin.

The above focus verse powerfully impacted me. God rejoices over me. He loudly sings songs of gladness for me! When I consider that God delights in me as much as I enjoy my children, it brings tears to my eyes.

The Father’s love for his children is unending, and as stated in Hebrews 12:2, Jesus went to the cross “…for the joy that was set before him” (ESV). That “joy” is you and I, friends. By His love, we are saved, and we are enjoyed.

As endlessly as I love my children, it feels like things come full circle when I see evidence of their happiness. In the same way, wouldn’t God feel great satisfaction when we are living joyfully? Our expressions of joy can be a form of worship to our Lord.

How does realizing that God delights in you affect your feelings of self-satisfaction? Are you looking to Him as the source of your joy?

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com/