Your extravagant kindness to me makes me want to follow Your words even more! Psalm 119:65 (TPT)
Opulent is the only word that can describe the interior of some of the world’s grand palaces. They are full of golden features, expensive tapestries, rare art pieces, ornate furniture, expansive rooms and gardens. Nothing about those estates appears to be designed for usefulness. The extravagant presentation screams, “this is what wealth can buy.” While it can be challenging to appreciate the expensive bling, one thing is sure: just taking a few minutes to observe and process the grandeur can leave you amazed.
Most of us live much simpler lives. We may not have gold-plated ceilings or million-dollar views, but we can enjoy God’s lavish blessings. He fills our lives with sweet gifts and reminders that He is present. His kindness and generosity are our reality. When we are captivated by His majesty, it will alter how we view our current circumstances.
Several years ago, we had the privilege of praying for some couples struggling to conceive. They had experienced the disappointment of miscarriages and the frustration of infertility. We were there to bring hope and join our faith with theirs, believing for a different outcome. It did not happen immediately, but within three years, everyone in the group had one or two babies or was in the final stages of adoption. Every family was blessed with children! We were celebrating each new life and reveling in the goodness of God.
The miracle of life is just one facet of the extravagant goodness of God. He was found faithful! There were celebrations of baby milestones, shouts of joy and many photographs to commemorate the miracles. While we were distant observers on the other side of the pond, we shared their excitement for the blessings of God.
Upon returning to Norway some three years after our initial visit, God had a special gift for us. We had planned the timing of our trip because of many things; however, babies were not one of them. To our delight, we were there to witness and celebrate two baby dedications. We had the opportunity to take photos and hug these precious babies. We saw the other babies and one very pregnant mother! For me, this experience, the timing, and the honor of being present to celebrate were indeed a taste of the extravagant kindness of God.
There are moments in our lives when God does what only He can do. He is always good, kind, and perfect in His ways, but sometimes we experience things in tangible, meaningful ways that seem almost too good to be true. I describe those moments as the “kiss of God.” Heaven shows up with a gift, wrapped and perfectly designed for us. Those experiences are never the result of our perfect timing or worthiness; they are simply the expression of God’s extravagant love.
His divine intervention often spurs us to follow Him even more closely. Romans 2:4 reminds us, “It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.” He pursues us with kindness so we can change our minds about who He is and His intentions. We have learned to fear God’s wrath and anger when He has been wooing us with His extravagant kindness.
Our expectation of the worst outcome often clouds our perception of reality. It warrants a change of perspective. We must remove the glasses of religious doctrine that skews our ability to see God for who He is. Let’s replace them with the rose-colored glasses of a smitten lover. Then we will recognize His goodness all around us. He had purposefully seeded the best things in life simply for our enjoyment.
Take a minute to think about some of the ways you have experienced the extravagant love of God. Let gratitude overtake you. Live today expecting to receive a kiss from Him! He plans to lavish you with something extraordinary.