Have you ever wondered: God, do you like me? Well, I have.
On September 5, 1985, I married my husband, Wilson Mace. One day as we were driving around Austin, Texas, I looked at my husband and said, “I like you”! He looked at me and said, “Oh, OK, well, I love you.” I said, “I love you too, but you don’t understand when I say I like you; I like being with you. No matter what we are doing. I just like being in your presence. Even if we have a disagreement, I still like being with you!”
As I thought about this, my mind started thinking, “God do you like me? Do you like being with me even when I mess up?” So, I went to his word and started reading. Here is what I found:
“For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God. However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God]. If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your Spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides]. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:5:11
As I read the verse, I realized when I was without the Spirit, I could not please God. He never liked what I did because everything I did was to satisfy my flesh.
But now, I have the Spirit, and by application of His character, I do please God.
God did not give me his Spirit in vain. God delights in and is pleased by what I am becoming in the power of the Holy Spirit. What God sees in me is not quantity but real quality Holy Spirit producing faith.
For his word tells me in Philippians 1:6 AMP
“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”
God sees the advances of my transformation by his Spirit and delights in them.
… “Let the LORD be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalms 35:27 AMP
“I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.” Jeremiah 32:41 AMP
“The LORD your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17 AMP
“The LORD favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness.” Psalms 147:11 AMP
“For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.”Psalms 149:4 AMP
For all of us who want to please God, for God to delight in us, be pleased with us, and like what we are and what we do, I pray God to pour out his Holy Spirit and make the Scriptures real to us!
So, yes, GOD DOES LIKE ME!
Written by Paula Mace
