Love Looks

By Tammy L. Hensel

Don't you just adore the special love looks you get from those closest to you? I know I do. I tuck them away in my heart and pull them out to reflect on in quiet moments — the times my husband winks at me across a crowded room or when one of my children looks at me with bright beaming eyes.

I recall when my kids were in elementary school and Awards Day rolled around every grading period. Whenever one of my sons received a certificate, the first thing he did was search the crowd for my face. When he found me, his face immediately lit up and we exchanged love looks. His communicated, "Mom, I'm so glad you're here. I hope you're proud of me. I love you." And my eyes answered back, "Yes, I'm very proud of you. You are so special to me. I will always love you."

These moments of silent adoration make us feel appreciated, wanted, and special. They nourish a need deep within our souls. Yet they pale in comparison to the love looks we exchange with God Himself.

What is a love look from God? How does one trade glances with the great invisible Maker of the universe?

God created us just so He could love us and we could love Him. He knows us intimately and He wants us to know Him intimately too. Although we cannot look directly into His eyes the way we do with our family members, He still communicates His love to us in many ways.

The first way is in sending His son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins and cleanse us of unrighteousness so that we can fellowship with Him (John 3:16-18; Rom. 3:23-25; 1 John 1:9). When we open our hearts to receive His special gift of salvation He fills it with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). It is through this communion with the Holy Spirit, via the conduits of prayer, Bible study and worship, that we exchange our love glances with the Almighty. We express our adoration to Him and feel His pride and pleasure in us.

As a beloved wife and mother I feel inexpressible joy in the love looks from my family. Imagine taking my small moment of pleasure and magnifying it over a trillion times. That is how much joy God finds in just one moment of fellowship — one love look — from you and me.

Video:
Below is a video to help you exchange love looks with your loving Heavenly Father.

Michael W. Smith "Deep In Love With You" From the "A New Hallelujah" Live DVD