Recently, I had an incredibly refreshing experience that filled my heart with joy. As a parent of two teenagers, I cherish moments like these. One of my sons, without any particular reason, came to sit beside me and hold my hand. He didn’t say anything or ask for anything; he just sat with me. When I asked if he needed anything, he simply said he wanted to sit with me and that he loved me.

As I sat there, overwhelmed by my son’s love and consideration, I was reminded of a question I encountered in a devotion: “What are some ways you use God to get what you want instead of loving and serving Him?” This question struck a chord with me. I realized that often, I only go to God in prayer to ask for something. It made me think of how my children sometimes only come to me when they need something. While I appreciate those moments, I understand that their engagement is driven by their needs, not just the desire to be with me.

Reflecting on how special and treasured I felt when my son sought me out just to spend time with me, I imagined how God must feel when His people seek Him solely to be in His presence. God is not there just to respond to our needs, like an Alexa device that we call upon only when we need something. God’s purpose is not to meet our needs; He desires a relationship with us.

Many people follow Jesus because they seek healing or blessings, but the true pursuit should be of Christ Himself. We should serve Him, not treat Him as our personal server. Our ministry should also be to God, not just to others. When was the last time you sat in prayer or worship just to praise and rest in His presence, without asking for anything in return?

God understands when we come to Him with our needs, but He desires more than that. He wants a relationship with us, where we seek Him with no ulterior motives. I felt deeply loved and treasured when my son chose to be with me just because he wanted to. Imagine making God feel that way. As a song I heard goes, “I’m caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet. I’m caught up in this holy moment, I never want to leave. I’m not here for blessings, Jesus, You don’t owe me anything. More than anything that You could do, I just want You.”

I am not ashamed to admit that I am in love with my Savior and desire nothing more than to sit with Him. I hope you feel the same way because I assure you, He wants you to love Him like that. There will be times when we need to come to God with our needs, and He will understand. He wants to lift our burdens and restore us when we are in need. However, let us remember that this should not be the only reason we go to Him. So, I challenge you to try it—just say hello and sit a while with the Lord. He wants to be with you, and He wants you to desire the same. Surprise him and bring joy to your Father’s heart today!

Scriptures: Psalm 27:4, Psalm 16:11, Jeremiah 29:13, Psalm 42:1-2