Does God have a favorite love language? Of course not, you say; He is perfect in all expressions of love. True, but I’d still like to think He shares my preferences. Because I love spending quality time with people, I’m naturally inclined to look for Biblical evidence that God does too. And I don’t have to look very far—all throughout the scriptures I see that God wants to be with me:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b)

Jesus commended Mary over Martha because she prioritized spending time with Him over the tyranny of the urgent. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

God’s relational love is perhaps best seen in John 17. Notice this beautiful circle of love between Jesus and the Father and how Jesus includes us.

Father…all I have is yours, and all you have is mine…Just as you are in me and I am in you…may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me…I in them and you in me…may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (From John 17)

God loves us far more than we can ever comprehend or imagine. Being with Him brings a deep sense of belonging.

Without question, God is with us. Are we with God?

Concrete ways to actively participate in the relationship:

Rise for an early morning espresso, Bible reading and prayer.

Take a nature prayer walk.

Drive to the beach, the park, the river… take a chair or blanket, your Bible, find a quiet place to read and pray.

Practice regular times of solitude/listening sessions and journal what the Lord seems to be saying to you.

On long car trips, if you’re alone, make it a prayer and praise drive and speak to the Lord out loud.

Pray and praise as you do household tasks—cleaning the kitchen, doing dishes, laundry, cleaning out a closet.

Meditate on a particular memorized scripture throughout the day.

Listen to praise music and sing along; better yet, dance to the Lord!

Now I know in part; then I will know fully even as also I am fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12b)

Think how little we know about:

Our bodies
Our recent ancestors
Our own life’s history

Perhaps the last frontier is not space but the unfathomable depths of man’s soul and spirit, his inner being.

Can you travel to the outskirts of a man’s forgotten memories, or probe the nebulous reaches of his subconscious mind?

Can you visit the region of his will and comprehend the motives of his choices?

Can you understand the tides of his emotions or follow every road his reason travels?

Have you found the garden where love is born, or the secret chamber where his most cherished hopes and dreams are housed?

We struggle to know ourselves. That we only “know in part” almost seems understated. And if we cannot even begin to fully know ourselves, how much less so one another!

We ought to be in awe of every person we meet. God has created us as uniquely individual and mysterious beings, each one with the capacity to be an amazing reflection of His love. Each one a star that will either shine brightly for Him or ultimately implode upon itself.

Truly, both my outer and inmost being are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Thank you, Lord, that someday you will fully reveal everything that puzzles me about myself and my life, and I will be complete.