I was asking God today what he wanted for me this year - the focus or emphasis of the next 12 months. What came to mind unnerves me a bit: The desire that surfaced was,
"I want to know you more so that I can like you."
I wish I was farther ahead in my journey of more than four decades, that I didn't need to ask God to help me like him more. So often we Christians have been pressured to love him with all our hearts, minds, bodies and souls; yet fail to ask if we even like the guy we're following. Would I be drawn to him; find myself eager to get some face-time with him?
As I processed this with Jesus, I didn't feel any scorn or guilt from him. Rather, I felt understanding: "I know you want to like me more; but your mental image of me has been so colored by poor teaching and false assumptions. I'm not mad at you for this."
So I'm praying, "I want to like you Jesus. Let's strip away all imagery and conviction that has misrepresented your true heart."