The Narnia movies are among my all-time favorite movies, C.S. Lewis’ characters and their stories on the screen.

I am a visual person, a creative, and the colors, expressions, and imagination of these stories brought to life inspire me.

There are many conversations had with Aslan, the Great Lion, that encourage and challenge us. There is one in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader where Aslan talks to Lucy about her identity. His words about her value have always struck a deep place in my soul.

I recently watched Prince Caspian, and a moment shared between Lucy and Aslan moved me to tears, something shifting in my heart.

If you don’t know the story, the Pevensie children are back in Narnia and adventuring, yet haven’t encountered Aslan. All but Lucy.

Lucy has had glimpses, dreams, and conversations with Him, but the others disbelieve her.

A battle breaks out, and she’s on a horse running through the forest, when she encounters Aslan.

In all their exchange, do you know what brought tears to my eyes?

It was the playful and tender nature of Aslan when Lucy runs toward him and they embrace.

Sometimes it’s easy to slip into a mindset that God is a harsh God, one who is distant and is only pleased and close to us when we’re doing well. This is a lie.

He knows we are human. He knows our nature is sinful. He knows our frail hearts.

Yes, He knew all these things before we even knew they were true, and He sent Jesus to die for us, because He’s holy and we’re not, but He wanted us close. His perfect Son living and dying and conquering the grave for us was the only way to do that.

Believing Jesus to be our Lord and Savior means we are forever sealed in His life, hidden in it, looked at by Father God with a righteousness not our own.

The idea of God being playful, tender, and excited to see me, like Aslan responded to Lucy, used to be challenging for me to believe.

But when I watched that scene, it was almost as if God said, This is us. This is how I feel about you. 

I want this to change everything about me. I want those around me to see His delight in my eyes, in my laughter, in my care of them. It want to dig deep my roots into not only His great love for me, but His genuine liking of me.

I know it’s a fictitious movie, but what if God wants us to respond to Him like Lucy did? Joyful, with no doubts or anxiety, no toning down the love.. running toward Him, meeting His safe arms and delighted heart.

What I read in the Bible claims that is our reality if we want it and believe it. How wonderful!

How do you see God? How do you think God feels about you?

I believe He will answer that question if we ask it. And I believe the best place to help us discover what He is truly like is the Bible.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. Psalm 18:1-2, 19

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are;he remembers we are only dust. Psalm 103:11-14

Our comfort lies not in holding all knowledge, but in trusting the One who does. Jen Wilkin

He is Almighty, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Past, Present and Future. He is our great, wondrous, glorious God. He is good and He is just. He is fascinating.

Are you fascinated with Him? Do you live as if the God of the Universe delights in you?