This past summer brought me immense joy as a mother. My son, Mark, married a wonderful, God-loving young woman. Our entire family played a part in the wedding; my husband officiated, Mark’s twin brother was the best man, and my other two sons were groomsmen. My role? To watch with happy tears and a full heart, culminating in the cherished mother-son dance. When Mark asked about the song, I knew instantly: “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.
Mark and I share similar personalities among my four boys—both adventurous yet thoughtful, capable, and composed. As we moved to the music, I whispered how much I loved him and my deep wish for him to embrace the freedom of living as God intended. The song’s lyrics resonated deeply: “I hope you never lose your sense of wonder… never fear those mountains in the distance… when you get the chance to sit it out or dance… dance.” As his mother, my greatest hope for Mark is that he experiences the liberation of living as God’s child—loved, forgiven, chosen, redeemed, blessed, and holy. This heartfelt wish echoes the desires of many parents. If we, as imperfect humans, hold such aspirations for our children, how infinitely greater are the desires of our perfect, holy Heavenly Father for us?
Take a moment to reflect on Ephesians 1:3-14, slowly reading the words God uses to describe YOU, His precious child. What words stand out? Do you truly grasp God’s profound love, His boundless grace, and the fact that He specifically chose YOU? Do you live in a way that reflects this truth?
Verses 11 and 12 in the Message paraphrase put it this way: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
The powerful phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” appears eight times within these twelve verses. We are designed to live freely in Christ as God’s chosen people, and this is the magnificent truth!
This week, select one word from Ephesians 1:3-14 that resonates with you. Ask God to deepen your understanding of its truth and to empower you to live it out. He hopes you dance – dance in the freedom and joy of His love!
Lynette Fuson
Director of Women’s Ministries
