‘The loving gaze of God’ by Claire Lynch - 14 September 2025
Introduction
Good morning! I’m Claire, one of the co-lead pastors here for those of you who don’t know me.
So I was chatting recently with Sam Whiley. For those of you who don’t yet know her, Sam and her husband Jason, used to lead West Wilts Vineyard but they handed this over a few years ago, to give themselves full time to being Spiritual Directors - they do a range of things, including 1:1 sessions and leading retreats - in fact Owen, Chris. (Emma’s) husband and a few others are away as we speak - camping with Jason in the woods!
But I was struck by something Sam said when she was describing how people come to a retreat, and she said that when you come to a retreat where you know that you are there just for you, what it does is, it creates an environment where you know you’re there to attend to your relationship with God.
And in that way, it gives permission for you to say, OK this is me time, it’s about my relationship with God in this moment. And so it gives you permission to not feel like you have to fix anyone else or you have to be concerned about where other people are on their journey, because you are there for you and they are there for them.
And there’s a trusting posture in this, that as everyone else is there for them that God in all of this will be able to lead people as they need to be led on an individual basis.
Now of course, there are different times for different things, and sometimes, as community its right and good, that we concern ourselves with each other, and support and pray for each other but sometimes it’s good that we can simply trust the other person to God - and make space, for ourselves, to feel permission to intentionally attend to our own relationship with God.
And so that is what we are going to do today - we are going to make space, like a mini retreat, to attend to our own relationship with God.
Because we know that all things flow from there. God being the source of all life and love, it’s when we meet with God, that we truly know who we are and what we’re made for. When we meet with God, the lover of our souls, the one who knows us inside outside, thats where we truly find fulfilment, wholeness and healing. When we spend time with God, the things that matter to God, become the things that matter to us, we begin to love and do the things that God loves and does. All things flow from our connection and relationship with God.
So I am going to lead us through this next hour as we make space to attend to our relationship with God. There’s not going to be a talk this morning - but through this time there will be moments of sung worship and times for reflection and quiet that I will lead us through. We’ll have periods of silence, as we allow our bodies and minds to slow down and create space for God to meet with us. Don’t be alarmed if those times feels longer than they actually are. Credit goes to Sam Whiley and also Hope Stockman for the reflections I will use today.
So this time is just for you and God, there’s nothing you have to do in this time, any reflections or questions I pose are simply suggestions - if you sense God taking your thoughts in a different direction - do go with that. If you fall asleep in the quiet, go with that too, it’s probably what you need!
There are cards and pens on every chair - so if you want to draw or write anything down to help you process or remember what God might be drawing to your attention, please do so.
In a moment David will lead us in some sung worship but first,
Let’s begin by sitting in a way that is comfortable. You may find it helpful to sit upright, with your back into the chair, both feet firmly on the ground, and your hands placed gently in your lap. Take a moment to become aware of your physical surroundings. Feel the chair supporting you as you bring yourself to a place of relaxation. Gently lower your eyes and soften your gaze, or close your eyes if this feels more comfortable. Pause (60)
Now focusing on your breath, take some slow, gentle and steady inhales and exhales. As you breathe in through your nose and quietly out through your mouth, receive your breath as a gift from God that sustains you. Pause (60)
As you settle into stillness, bring your attention inward and notice how you come into this moment. What thoughts are present to you? (15) As you breathe out, gently release these thoughts to God’s loving care. (15) What emotions are present to you? (15) As you breathe out, gently release these emotions to God's loving care (15) How does your body feel? Are there sensations, pains or places of tension? (15) As you breathe out, gently release these sensations to God’s loving care (15).
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Reflection: The Loving Gaze of God
I like to lead us in the practice of sitting in the long and loving gaze of God which helps to establish a deeper understanding of our belovedness. It also brings us back to our true identity as beings perfectly loved both generously and unconditionally.
Please do take a seat and find a position that is comfortable for you. You may like to close your eyes, or just simply lower your eyes and soften your gaze.
Take a deep slow breath in and welcome all that God has for you in this moment, from the Source of all that is good, all that is Light and Life and Love. Now, with your imagination, begin to picture the source of all Love and life surrounding you. (10) How does this come to you? Does it come as an image, a colour, a feeling or a sensation? (10) Perhaps you imagine the Trinity looking at you, their eyes resting on you with love, joy, acceptance and peace. (10) Maybe it is the loving gaze of Jesus, or the Father, or the Holy Spirit. (10) Do you recall a person, friend or family member who draws you to love, safety, and all that is good and true? (10) How does love come to you? Pause (30)
Breath in the Loving Presence with you, seeing you, knowing and loving you.
Open your heart and mind to the gaze of Love resting upon you, the Face of Love beholding you, with kindness and gentleness, the reality of Love giving life to your very being with every breath. (Pause)
If it feels helpful to do so, imagine Jesus with you.
You might imagine the physical person of Jesus looking at you, his eyes resting on you with love. What is his posture? Does he share any words with you?
If you do not picture Jesus at this time, you might bring to mind the feeling of being safe and known and loved, the feeling of being with a trusted friend.
Maybe you remember a place and time when you experienced Love moving in another person, friend and family member sharing and connecting you to All that is true and real and good. (Pause and Rest)
What is Love’s gentle presence like? How do you experience that Presence with you and maybe in you? Rest in the embrace of Love and let go of all other distractions.
Allow your body, mind and heart to be still and be loved, to be warmed by the Presence. (Pause)
Slowly, let yourself look at the Face of Love looking at you, your Creator, your Source, as if you were linking eyes with each other.
What is the Face of Love like? What is the expression on Love’s face? How does Love gesture towards you? How might you respond to this Gaze of Love looking at you, loving you as you open all your senses to see? How may you respond in your whole body as you gaze upon Love’s face and sense Love’s presence?
Maybe there are words to share between you two about what you are experiencing.
Maybe Love has something to say to you. Maybe there are no words necessary now for the connection between you two at this moment. Maybe you feel like moving your body in response in some way. (Silence and Rest)
Gently let your attention return to your breath, to the space you are in. What seems most significant to take with you as you seal this time with the Source of all Love?
Take a few slow, easy breaths and open your eyes when you feel ready.
Reflection Questions
Now rather than rush away, I’d like to give some space for each of us to ponder how we found that time.
It may be that you found it relatively easy to sit in the long and loving gaze of God and for you it felt natural to connect with God in that way. Or maybe for you, it felt uneasy, maybe it brought up emotions and feelings you weren’t expecting or don’t quite understand
So I’m going to ask you some questions to consider. As I ask these, you might like to write down on the piece of card your response to these questions.
If writing is not your thing, you may like to draw your response or draw how you are feeling. It may be that you have a journal with you, or you journal on your phone - feel free to bring that out, if you want to write on there.
What did you notice in this time of prayer?
What was going on in your body, your emotions, your thoughts?
Were there new feelings, reactions, intuitions, desires, emotions, thoughts, or insights? What would you like to capture?
What felt the most significant?
Do you sense an invitation from God?
What help might you need from God in line with how God is inviting you - what help might you need?
I’d like to give you a few minutes now as you process some of those questions.
It may be that you’d like some time to chat to God about this, as one good friend to another. Maybe you need something from him in order to respond to his invitation.
It may be that you’d prefer to turn to one or two people around you, or to someone you came with or a friend and share your response to those questions. Sometimes, speaking out what we are sensing helps to ground it, to fix that experience in our being. If there’s no-one next to you that wants to talk, I’d happily listen to you, I’ll be sat just here.
So we’ll have some quite background music to give you space to either chat with God or each other - or you may like to simply sit and soak in what you are experiencing.
How does God see me?
So today, we’ve entered into the practice of sitting in the long and loving gaze of God. For some it will have felt easier than for others, for a whole host of reasons
Reminding ourselves of how God sees us and how God feels about us, to do this regularly, even if we find it hard to receive, is a really powerful thing to do. Because when we remind ourselves of how God sees us and how God feels about us, it changes how we see and feel about ourselves. And how we feel about ourselves affects everything about how we do life.
God, the one who created us, is the starting point for how we see ourselves and everything flows from there. If we find it hard to believe what the Bible says about the way God feels about us, then that’s a question to explore. Why might that be?
But for today, I’d like to share with you a few verses from the Bible that remind us about how God sees us and feels about us. And I’d like to invite you to choose one of these verses, and remind yourself of it, every day for this next week.
You might print it off and stick it to your mirror, or place it in your coat pocket or car, so you see it every morning?
You might like to record on a voice note - and listen to it every night before you go to bed?
You could even put it as a daily reminder in your calendar - so you see it pop up every day on your phone.
So how does God see us?
Created in God’s Image – Genesis 1:27
Genesis 1:27 - says that we were created in God’s image
“So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them….”
One of the foundational truths about our beauty is that we’re created in God’s image and being made in God’s image means we carry a piece of God’s beauty. So our worth and beauty come from God, not human standards. We don’t get to add to or detract from that. We are unique purposeful creations by a loving Creator.
God sees us as beautiful because we reflect God’s image and beauty, whether we like it or not.
God Looks at the Heart – 1 Samuel 16:7
In the book of Samuel it says..
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
In a world focused on outward beauty, God reminds us that He values our hearts above all. When Samuel was sent to anoint a new king, he expected to find someone with a commanding presence, but God chose David, a shepherd boy. God’s focus on the heart rather than the appearance tells us that our inner character, intentions, and love for Him make us beautiful. He sees beyond the surface and cherishes our faithfulness, kindness, and sincerity.
God values our inner beauty—our heart—above all else.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made – Psalm 139:14
In the book of Psalms, David prays to God saying…
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
This Psalm, 139, is a celebration of how intimately God knows us, from the moment we were conceived and carried in our mother’s womb. Every detail of who we are is designed with purpose, and God’s doesn’t make mistakes. As David says, his works are wonderful!
We are each unique, intentional creations by a loving Creator, beautiful and worthy in God’s sight.
God Delights in You – Zephaniah 3:17
And finally, in the book of Zephaniah we read..
“The LORD your God is among you;
He is mighty to save.
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you with His love;
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Imagine God rejoicing over you with singing—what a beautiful image! God sees us as worthy of His delight, not because of our achievements or appearances but because we are His beloved. This verse paints a picture of God’s unconditional love for us, despite our flaws or imperfections.
Cherished by God and bringing him joy.
So David is going to come and play for us and, as he does so, I invite you to take that time to choose one of those verses that you are going to remind yourself of each day this week.