Interrupting God

My son loves cuddling. Most of the time. Well... wrestling is probably a better word to describe what he likes to do. And I love that. Looking beyond the odd head-butt here and there, or the occasional knee in uncomfortable places (guys will know what I'm talking about...), I love the fact that he just wants to be with me, if only for a little while.

The other day I was lying on the couch watching rugby. He came into the living room, saw me, exclaimed, "Pappa!" then ran up and jumped on me. He just looked into my eyes to make sure he had my attention - our noses almost touching - openly coughed into my face and casually jumped off to go and bother his big sister. That brief interaction was enough for him to know that I'm still there before carrying on with his day.

Sometimes I'll have my phone out and he will just climb onto my lap, wedge himself between my face and my phone. I'm convinced he does this just to get some form of acknowledgement that I know he's there. Sometimes I pretend to ignore him on purpose, just to get a sneaky cuddle when he comes in for another broadside attack on my attention. He falls for it every time! And I love it.

I think God, as Father, appreciates us looking for His attention as well. I can imagine God smiling when we try to interrupt Him moving galaxies across the universe by saying thank you for the food we're about to eat. Or asking for a parking space. Or looking for comfort when we feel hurt. And though we know that we can never truly interrupt an almighty, omnipresent God with our prayers, we don't try to get His attention very often, do we?

In James 4:8 and Hebrews 4:16 we are encouraged to approach God. There's a sense of intent in those verses. Though we can't do anything to earn His attention or affection, we are encouraged to turn to Him, to draw near to Him, to approach His throne in order to receive or experience His attention and affection. It's not going to happen to us if we keep ignoring Him. We have to choose to go His way; to run towards Him rather than away from Him.

We're also told to continually ask Him for things (Philippians 4:6). We're told that we won't be able to enter God's Kingdom if we don't approach and accept it as little children (Mark 10:13-16). We're told that, when we do turn to Him and come, just as we are, without anything but a snotty nose and the need for a hug, He will not turn us away (Psalm 51:17, Matthew 7:9-12). Jesus even tells the story in Luke 15 of a parent's joy when a child comes back home.

We really are missing out when we choose not to interrupt God. Dwight L. Moody put it this way:
"Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all."

God welcomes interruptions from the ones (you and I) He loves.

I really pray that you will get to know God as a good Father. I hope you get the opportunity to run to Him in search of acknowledgement and affection, and that you'll yearn for it so badly that you'll use those opportunities every day. And if you need to wrestle for a bit to get His attention, I hope you have Jacob's perseverance (Genesis 32:22-32).

Selah.