New parents anxiously wait for the first word from their precious, tiny new-born. “I just know it will be mama,” says the radiant mother. “Daddy will be easier–try saying mama and daddy and you’ll see for yourself!”

So it goes. Really the infant has been laying claim to his mama and daddy and knows them almost from conception. He’s comfortable with them; listens to them as they “talk” to him and kicks–at times–in response. However, there is a word far more important than ‘mama’ or ‘daddy’ to that little being: MINE. “This is my little house–my space, just remember that! Don’t push too hard. Don’t try to get me to move. This is mine!”

He’s still ready with that statement when it comes to cuddling next to Mama while he’s contentedly feeding, to his bottle, or his pacifier. “This is mine! Get back! Don’t take it away! Where is it! Where is it! Leave me alone!” He grows and he may not actually say the word as quickly as he acts out the word, but one day out it comes! “Mine!”

And we keep saying this word most of our lives in one way or another: “She is MY wife. Keep your hands off her!” “This is MY car! What do you think you’re doing?” “That’s MY garden. Stay out of it!” “It’s MY body! I can do what I want to with it!” It’s probably one of the most commonly used words in our language when you come to think about it and it can become quickly explosive!

Well, we’ve heard and we’ve seen that as we get older the possessions we acquire fall from loose fingers and ‘mine’ becomes a meaningless word. My mother had a severe stroke and during her illness lost her wedding rings that had once been so precious to her. But she wasn’t at all perturbed. Being ‘mine’ wasn’t important as she groped for words lying helplessly in a hospital bed. As someone has said, “I’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul!”

There is only one thing that we can claim as “mine” as long as we are able to form the word with trembling lips. “God. You are my God.” I love the song, “For Once in My Life.” I’m not sure about the lyrics but they go something like this: “For once in my life I can say this is MINE, you can’t take it! As long as I have love in my life I can make it!” Remember? We can change that “love” in my life to “as long as I have YOU in my life I can make it.” That “You” being our Lord. As long as I have Him in my life I can make it!

And He has promised His continual, abiding presence to us, hasn’t He? (Deuteronomy. 31:8) I will never leave you or forsake you. So, He’s mine. MINE! You can’t take Him away from me–no matter what comes. He is mine–you can’t take Him!

But the lyrics end with, “For once in my life I have someone who needs me.”

“Are you suggesting, Anabel, that God needs me?” That’s what’s it all about. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (II Corinthians 5:19). Jesus had one main purpose: To reconcile the fallen race to God. Why? Why bother with rebellious, wandering children? Why keep trying to bring about reconciliation between us? But I will not give you up–I will plead for you to return to me, and will keep on pleading with your children’s children in the years to come (Jeremiah 2:9 LB). He loves us. He wants us to love Him back. He needs us–else why allow His beloved Son to be tormented, humiliated, tortured, and killed? There’s only one reason. He wants us back. He is love, but how can He love if He has no one to love? He longs for our love.

Yes. He needs me–Anabel–and He needs you. He needs our unending love. He needs us to say to Him, “I will never leave You or forsake You.”

Oh God, You are My God.

I seek You. My soul thirsts for you.

My flesh faints for You, as in a dry and

weary land where there is no water.

But I have looked upon You where You live

beholding Your power and Your glory.

And because Your steadfast love is better than Life,

my lips will praise You, Thus will I bless you as long as I live.

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 63: 1-4 (Paraphrase)