Exuberant love

Let me paint you a picture this morning....

Our puppy, in the kitchen, just now, so in love with his daddy that all he wants to do is lick his daddy's face in exuberant love. He ignores the food that his daddy has prepared for him, he just wants to lavish affection on his daddy. Just being with him is enough to ignite excitement - wagging tail, jumping with joy - amazing.

What is his daddy's response?

Of course, his heart is melted, smiling from ear to ear and laughing at the overjoyed pup, his hand reaches out in response.

What a picture!

How do I feel about my Heavenly Father?

Do I look for the "feed bowl" rather than just the sheer joy of being in His Presence?

Am I just coming with a shopping list of prayers bereft of the grateful heart that He so desires each one to have?

David was a man full of faults and failings, but his desire was to follow hard after God's Presence.

His joy was to be as close to the Lord as possible.

See what singles him out from the likes of king Saul:

1 Samuel 13:14 NKJV

But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."

King David's passionate heart inspired so many love songs (Psalms) which we still use today to express our praise to the Lord and understand His gracious nature.

Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! [2] Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! [3] Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! [4] Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! [5] Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! [6] Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

If you're breathing this morning - jump up to the Lord and cover Him with praise and thanks!