Jeremiah 32:37 “I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them.” Last night one of my boys started whining about his dinner, and he demanded that we swap it out for another dish. I turned to him and said “why don’t we try that again. Can you say please?” Now how my son sees me is important to me not because of the impact on my sense of self-esteem, but because I know that having an attitude of respect, of gratitude and of love are ultimately good for him. It will help him work well with other people; it will give him psychological resilience in tough times, and provide him a much happier existence. When I was a kid, I didn’t really understand why God was so desperate for my worship. “Is he so insecure that he needs my affirmation?” But the bible says that he desires our worship because it is good for US and our descendants. He loves us too much to let us become spoiled brats that don’t understand the true cosmic order of things. Dear God, thanks so much for loving me so much. Thank you for giving me one heart and one purpose. I align myself to the reality that you are worthy to be praised today. I know you never stop doing good for me. I know you find joy in doing good for me. After wandering so far, you’re so good to faithfully and wholeheartedly replant me right in the center of your presence. Thank you for your discipline and your sacrifice. In your son’s name, Amen.