"May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.” - Number 6:25 NLT
Have you ever known someone whose smile could light up a room? Or have you ever been in the presence of someone you deeply respect, admire, and love, and found yourself constantly glancing over at their face, eager to see their reaction or how they were receiving what was happening or being said? Both of these situations create a natural desire to seek out that individual and their expression.
The prayer in the verse, "May the Lord smile on you," carries a depth of meaning. Another way to understand it could be, "May He be pleased with you." We often read this prayer as a request to receive God's smile, but we might miss the key point: a smile is often a response to something. It’s not just about hoping God smiles at us but about seeking to understand what makes Him smile.
In our spiritual lives, it’s easy to focus on wanting God’s approval or smile, but do we spend time learning what pleases Him? Just as we naturally want to understand what brings a smile to the face of someone we admire, we should also seek to understand what makes God smile. To do this, we must look to His face—not physically, but through His Word, where we find the patterns of behavior that delight Him. Prayer, too, is not just about speaking but listening to hear His heart.
Our prayer for you is to follow the wisdom of the hymn by Helen Lemmel:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”
By focusing on Him, we begin to understand the joy that He finds in us, and we are drawn closer to the life that truly pleases Him.
HIGHLIGHTED QUOTE: “We must be more interested in learning what makes God smile, than just desiring God’s smile.”
TIP OF THE DAY: Find one thing today that will cause God to smile and do it. Write down your experience as well.
TALKING TO GOD: Dear Lord, in the busyness of the day, may I take the time to care about the things that you find joy and happiness in. Please reveal to me at least one thing that makes You smile so I can know you better and will help me as I seek to please You. Thank you for your grace that you constantly demonstrate to me. May I be willing to pause to see it. I will be seeking your face today, Lord.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
- God declares in Micah 6:8, what makes Him happy. How can you demonstrate that today?
- How will you take time today to seek God’s face with a desire to see His smile?
- Reflect on this question, “Do the things that make me smile, also make God smile (and visa versa)?
