Deuteronomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
Remember when you were little and your mom or dad would ask you to look at them when you were in trouble or did something wrong and you would maybe avoid eye contact but they would be adamant about having your eye contact before they continued with what they were going to say? The other day God gave me a picture of myself standing before him but my head was looking down and away, anywhere but his face. He then called my name and gently lifted my chin so that I was looking into his face. Rather than seeing anger, sadness, disappointment, or rejection, I saw unconditional love, grace, forgiveness, and compassion. When your parents disciplined you as a child (if they were in a healthy state), it was out of their love for you and their desire for you to be the best you could be even though a lot of times you didn't see it that way.
When our Father in Heaven disciplines us, it is out of his sheer love for us. Many people think that God is mad at them, unwilling to forgive them for mistakes they've made, when in fact, it is quite the opposite. God is rejoicing over you, singing melodies over you and loving you for who you are. Don't be ashamed to look in his face, don't avoid eye contact with him, it's in the loss of eye contact with him that we find ourselves slipping even further away from the love that he offers. The enemy would love for us to lose sight of God's face, to give in to self doubt and lies, but that is not where we are meant to dwell. God loves you and wants you to look to his face today. You may be surprised by the expression you see waiting for you.
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