If you spend any time with me you will eventually hear me talk about the metaphors that God uses in scripture to explain our relationship with Him.  I am fascinated with them.  They are a beautiful picture of God’s love, care, provision and affection for us. I have been pondering the idea that God really does want and enjoy us for several years.  Take some time to look over the metaphors that I have listed below.  Ponder them, ask God questions.  If you allow them to take root they will bring a confidence as you deal with life.  The lie that most of us struggle with is that we are alone.  It is all up to us, we have no one to help us or be with us along the journey.  The metaphors of scripture will help combat or erase that lie.  Imagine how much different your life would be if you were absolutely confident that God was with you.

Here are some of the metaphors that scripture uses to describe your relationship with God.  This is a good start and guide to help you understand your relationship with God.

• We are the clay, and He is the Potter – Jeremiah 18:1-6; Isaiah 64:8.  This is a good picture of God’s care for us and that He has a purpose and a plan for us.  The Potter creates with a purpose and plan.  He has no random creations, you have all have been made with a plan and purpose to be enjoyed by your creator.
• We are the vine, He is the Branch – John 15:1-11.  Everything we have follows to us through God’s strength and provision for our lives.  We find our being, and sustenance by remaining, continuing, persisting, lasting and enduring in the vine.
• We are the sheep, He is the Shepherd – John 10:1-18. We know and respond to His voice.  He cares, protects and provides for us.  Spend some time with a farmer.  Watch how well they know their animals, and how well the animals know and depend on the farmer.  Most of us are so removed from a farm that we have lost the beauty of this metaphor.  This is a rich picture of God’s protection, attentiveness and safekeeping of us.
• We are His children – Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:6. This is the first picture of a two way relationship.  God cares for us but we learn to love Him, not just for what does but for who He is. He knows…….
  • God knows all of our thoughts, habits and actions. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.” – Psalm 139:1-3
  • God knows our future. He knows us personally and plans for us. He provides the best for us, if we follow Him. “‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” – Jeremiah 29:11
  • God knew us before we were created, before we were even born! “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you;” – Jeremiah 1:5
  • God knows all our features and characteristics, He values us and cares for us greatly and more than we can imagine. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:7
  • God knows our name. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
  • He made us and knows every detail of our lives! “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;” Isaiah 49:16

• We are His friend – John 15:15. Friends share life, stories and joy together. God wants to walk with you through the joys and struggles and share your day to day life.  He wants to be the person that you talk about your day with. He invites us to stroll with Him in the cool of the day, talk, fellowship and enjoy His company as He enjoys ours.
• We are the bride, and He is the Bridegroom – John 3:29.  This relationship is about choice.  We must choose to love Him, again not for what does but for who He is.  This is a rich metaphor about God’s pursuit and desire for us.

“The courtship that began with a honeymoon in the garden culminates in the wedding feast of the lamb.” John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance 

The courtship that began with a honeymoon in the garden culminates in the wedding feast of the lamb.

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If you would like to read more take a look at my new book

Letter From A Loving Father

Many of us struggle with connecting to a loving father.  You may have had a wonderful father and are able to recognize the impact of his love and consistency in their life.  But sadly many become angry because of all the wounds that a father represents.  They have wounds from their father because of what he did or did not do.  These wounds prevent them from knowing their real Father – the one that knit them together in their mother’s womb because of His passionate love and desire for them.  You are wanted and enjoyed by your Heavenly Father.  Below is a list of scripture in the form a letter to you.  Read and meditate on them.

My Child ,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you – Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up – Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways – Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered – Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image – Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being – Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring – Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived – Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation – Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book – Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live – Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 139:14

And brought you forth on the day you were born – Psalm 71:6

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you – 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father – 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could – Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father – Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand – James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs – Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope – Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love – Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore – Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing – Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you – Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession – Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul – Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things – Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me – Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart – Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires – Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine – Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you – Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart – Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes – Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth – Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus – John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed – John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being – Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you – Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you – 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love – Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me – 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again – Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen – Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father – Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is – Will you be my child? – John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you – Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Source – Father’s Love Letter

Further Reading

Validation

How Does God Validate You

How Does God Validate You – Part 2

How does God validate you?  With the love and sacrifice of His son.  My head believes this but, does my heart and behavior reflect that?

Everything a man does is a search for validation

The question is not “if” a man is seeking validation.  The question is “where is he seeking validation from?”

To validate something is to “give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to it.”  What makes you feel like you have value and worth?  We are designed to want validation, the feeling of significance.  The problem is that  we try to get validation from what we think we can control or mange.  We avoid mystery and things we can’t control.  We seek validation from people, work, friends, accomplishments or our spouse.  They become the barometer of our feelings and worth.   The treadmill of acceptance can wear us out.  Always trying to please people or control situations.  The solution is that we kill our heart or hyper control our world.  We stop believing that we have value or significance in the world.  This will kill your heart, “the wellspring of life” – Proverbs 4:23.  Or we control the people in our world by killing them with kindness or managing everything by ourselves.  This will flat wear you out.

The problem is we keep God at arms length and try appease Him with church attendance and trying to be nice.  God’s love and acceptance is the key to value and significance. The journey of believing  brings freedom and renewed energy.  How does God validate you?

• He made you in his image and delights in you. – Genesis 1:27 ; Zephaniah 3:17
• He stubbornly loves you even when you are unlovable. – John 3:16
• God is for you not against you. – Romans 8:31
• His plans for you are good. – Jeremiah 29:11
• He has given you unique gifts, talents, and strengths. –  Romans 12:6

This is validation.  God really does love you and is crazy about you.  You really are the apple of His eye. – Psalms 17:8.

What do you do with this information.  These passages feel warm and overwhelming, but how do I own them?  How do I begin to believe them in a way that it changes my behavior?  Look up the seven scriptures print them or write them out.  Put them on the refrigerator or bathroom mirror.  Put them in your pocket, purse, in your car or in your office.  Meditate on them by reading them quietly in your heart and prayers.  Let thoughts and questions come up.  Ponder your questions as you read and re-read these scriptures in the light of the truth they present.  I am convinced that you will begin to know God and yourself in a more intimate way as you mediate on scripture.  It is only seven verses, read them ponder them and let them soak into your heart.  I trust that the God of all the universe will meet you there.

Psalm 37:5-6 (MSG)

If you would like to read more take a look at my new book

Here are 3 other posts that can help

How Does God Validate You? – Part 2

God Loves and Enjoys You

Validation

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Hi my name is Mark Carpenter, I am a husband, father, counselor and Christ follower.  I have been married to my wonderful wife since 1982. We have one daughter who is the apple of her daddies eye along with a great son-in-law.  During my childhood I lived all over the country but, I have become a converted southerner.  We live in Chattanooga always dreaming of the fall.  I am a learner at heart and that is the goal with my hobbies and interaction with others.  I think excitement is the process of learning with new experiences and friends.

• Relationship with Jesus Christ
• Relationship with Yourself
• Relationship with Your Spouse
• Relationship with Your Family

“We need to tell a bigger story with our life than the story of ourselves. Your story is too small if it only tells your story.” – Leonard Sweet

We become so wrapped up in the smaller story or our pain and problems that we forgot the larger story or God’s love and provision. Stop and wonder about God’s unfailing love.

 He will:

 Focus on His larger story of love when you feel lost.  He will find you and guide you.