“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” -Ephesians 5:1

Let me give you a simple front porch truth this morning.

God never asks us to be something we are not. He asks us to live out who we already are.

Paul did not say, “Act like strangers trying to impress a holy God.” He said, “Be followers of God, as dear children.” That means you belong. That means you are loved. That means you are not trying to earn a seat at the table — you already have one.

Children imitate what they love.

If a little boy admires his daddy, he walks like him, talks like him, tries to wear his boots. Not because he has to. Because he wants to.

That is what Paul is saying. Walk like your Father. Forgive like your Father. Show mercy like your Father. Love like your Father.

You do not follow God to become loved.

You follow God because you are loved.

And when you remember that you are a “dear child,” it changes everything. You stop striving. You stop pretending. You simply stay close.

Stay close to the Father today.

Listen to His voice.

Watch His ways.

And take the next step behind Him.

Because children who stay near their Father never lose their way.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” -Psalm 37:4

Can I give you a simple encouragement this morning?

Most people read that verse backwards. We focus on the desires part and skip over the delight part. But God never promised to fulfill a heart that isn’t first surrendered.

“Delight thyself in the Lord.”

That word delight means to take pleasure in, to lean into, to find your joy in Him. It’s the picture of a heart that says, “Lord, You are enough.” Not just what You give. Not just what You fix. Not just what You provide. But You.

When you begin to truly delight in Him—through His Word, through prayer, through quiet moments when nobody else sees—something beautiful happens. Your desires start to change. They become shaped by His heart. What you want begins to line up with what He wants.

And here’s the blessing: when your heart lines up with His, you’re not chasing fulfillment anymore—you’re walking in it.

I’ve learned this sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and an open Bible. Peace doesn’t come from getting everything I want. It comes from wanting Him more than anything else.

So today, don’t chase the promise. Chase the Promiser.

Delight yourself in the Lord… and watch what He does with your heart.

“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” -Isaiah 25:1

Let me share something with you from my heart this morning.

Isaiah didn’t say, “Lord, You are a God.”

He said, “O Lord, Thou art my God.”

That’s personal.

There’s a difference between knowing about God and knowing Him. A lot of folks believe God exists. But peace comes when you can say, “He’s mine. He’s my Shepherd. My Savior. My God.”

And notice what Isaiah does next:

“I will exalt thee. I will praise thy name.”

Praise is not a feeling. It’s a decision.

You don’t wait until everything feels wonderful to praise Him. You praise Him because He has done wonderful things. Some of you are breathing today because of wonderful things He’s done. Some of you have been carried through valleys you didn’t think you’d survive. That was Him.

And then Isaiah says something steady and strong:

“Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”

God’s plans are not random. They are rooted in faithfulness.

His promises are not shaky. They are truth.

You may not understand everything happening around you today, but you can stand on this: God is faithful. God is true. And His counsel has not changed.

So lift your eyes this morning.

Say it out loud if you need to:

“Lord, You are my God.”

Exalt Him. Praise Him. Trust Him.

Because the God who has been faithful in your yesterday is already standing in your tomorrow.