TODAY IS…

a superb day to look for a smile on God’s face.

“May God be merciful and bless us. May His face smile with favor upon us.”  Psalm 67:1 NLT

One definition of the verb ‘smile’ is “to express favor or approval.”

One of our primary goals each day should be to ‘see’ God smile down upon us. There can be no greater feeling than to know that we have found favor with God.

The importance of finding favor with God can be traced all the way back to Noah. God was unhappy with the people He had created to inhabit the world. He was disappointed in the way they treated Him, and the way they treated each other.

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8 NIV).

Will God smile on us only if we are perfect?

Of course not. Noah was not perfect, but somehow, in a world plagued with corruption and sin, he loved God and did his best to please Him and obey Him.

It is strange how we often view pleasing God as if it means we have to somehow compromise ourselves. Obviously, quite the reverse is true and we are only compromising ourselves when we are not pleasing God. Somehow life has gotten twisted and loving ourselves and each other has become an inconvenience that seems to put a damper on our quest for things we think will make us happy and provide us with fulfillment.

Just as Noah did, we live in a world full of evil and in which far too many people are more concerned with meaningless pleasures than with God’s approval.

God can lead us to happiness and contentment beyond anything our limited minds can imagine. All that is required is that we live lives of love, dignity, decency, compassion, and respect for ourselves and those around us. When we put others first, we put God first. When we put God first, He will smile upon us, showing His approval. Fortunately, there are many individuals who know this.

“Many people say, ‘Who will show us better times?’ Let Your face smile on us, Lord.” (Psalm 4:6 NLT).

Those of us who do not ‘see’ a smile upon God’s face directed at us need to take an honest look at the way in which we live our lives. If we are not happy, perhaps it is because part – or all – of our lifestyle does not meet with God’s approval.

The smile of God can be felt.

Those who live their lives seeking His approval know this. Let each of us learn to work daily to do what is right in God’s eyes.

“And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!” (Psalm 90:17 NLT).

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson