Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from Radical.net.

I've won that we as rebellious sinners for the holy God of the universe would even be able to consider ourselves as the apple of his eye.

This is what the Bible teaches we are made in the image of God and loved by God and for all who trust in Jesus, you know God as Father.

Just picture a dad in this world who so loves his children.

They are the apple of his eye.

He just shines when he thinks about them and looks at them and spends time with them.

And he loves them.

This is not an unhealthy picture of a child trying to earn their dad's approval.

This is a picture of a father, a dad who delights in his kids.

And this is the picture we have of God as our father,

delighting in you and me as his children.

Not in a way that we're then compelled to try to earn his favor in a way that we just want to stay there close to him.

We want to be an intimate, close, wonderful, encouraging, enjoyable relationship with him as the apple of his eye.

Don't you want that today?

Just to walk so closely with God as your father enjoying his love for you, walking in love for him.

And then the second phrase here in this verse, Psalm 17 verse 8, hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Oh, yes, that picture of closest of intimacy just goes to all their level that in this image, you've got the wings of, I don't know, an eagle picture being nestled in the shelter and shadow and protection.

And provision of someone who is caring for you.

Don't you want to live there today?

Oh, God, we praise you for the pure, holy, unimaginable, awesome breath, taking mind, blowing, life, transforming privilege of being the apple of your eye.

God, help us to see ourselves today with this dignity and honor and delight that you bestow on us.

God, help us not to live today with our heads hanging low.

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