Day 27: Calling Out

This past weekend my sweet niece spent the night. She kept asking me to play with her, color with her, to braid her hair, etc. When she was upset because my mom tried to get her to take her cough medicine she called for me crying, "I want Aunt Cami!" My heart automatically jumped as I ran to her, scooping her up in my arms, snuggling her close and tight, and assuring her that the medicine would make her feel better. While I know my niece loves me, she has never been the one to really want me so much until recently, usually my nephew is the one who reaches more for me. But my heart just melts for both of them equally! As my heart became more joyful over the fact that my niece called for me, God spoke to me, "You know, this is how I feel when you call out for me."

Calling out to someone, whether that be from a place of joy or distress or anything in-between, shows that we desire them. Who you reach for when you want someone to talk to, who you gravitate towards when you are lonely, who you ask for help when you have trouble, who you want to have fun and adventure with, who you run into the arms of when life beats you down and breaks your heart... that is who you love the most, seek the heart of the most, and who you find yourself in.

Sadly, for me, Jesus has not always been the One whose arms I ran into in these situations. Time and time again I had run to the arms of man, to a relationship, to someone who would affirm me and love me for a moment. It took so many failed attempts of running into fading arms for me to finally find that there is One, has always been One, who is steadfast and constant in His love for me. I cannot thank God enough for never giving up on me and for continually allowing me to run wildly into His arms of love.

When I think about my niece calling out to me, the immediate compassion, adoration, and love that oozed from my heart so naturally reminded me that it is only an inkling compared to the compassion God has for me in my calling out to Him, the adoration He has for me, and the unconditional love He has for me. He desires our calling out to Him, friends. Even if you put yourself in the messiest of situations, even if it is all your fault, the Father does not turn His eyes from those who genuinely call out His name. Your calling out to Him shows you desire His saving, rescuing power. That you want to be near Him. That He is the only One you truly believe can save you.

I want my heart to forever see this truth, that the only One I can call out to and know will always be there is my Heavenly Father, Abba. Through the pain, the joy, the heartbreak, disappointments, accomplishments, loneliness, longing, through it all, God, let our hearts be calling out to You... the only One we need and genuinely desire to the core of our being.

We call out to you, Father. Thank you for your compassionate love for us, even when we only call in our need. You still listen, hear, and respond. Urge our hearts to call only for You, Lord.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love..." Psalm 33:18

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry..." Psalm 34:15

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CG