You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.” - Genesis 2:16b. So many people see God as nothing more than a tyrant, a kill-joy, a celestial being whose main job is to keep us from enjoyment: “Hey, are you having fun right now? You need to stop that.” But in today’s verse we see something very different. We see a God Whose first word to the humans He had designed and created was not a word of prohibition, but rather an invitation to enjoyment - “You are free to eat”. God is indeed the One “Who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (I Timothy 6:17). His heart and desires for us and towards us are only good. His gifts are from a generous Giver Who loves us. But we get ourselves into trouble when we make these delights from God into the chief desires of our hearts. When that happens, the gifts become gods that demand our worship. And in the process they lose the joy they were meant to give. The answer is to always receive these blessings with gratitude towards God. In doing so they will then accomplish their ultimate purpose - to draw our hearts to the Wonderful One Who gave them to us. That is His desire - for us to see Him as He truly is. A God Who is not an overbearing bully or a distant ruler, but the Giver of Life Whose loving-kindness and graciousness for you is without limit. So enjoy with gratitude the many things the Lord has given you today, and allow them to draw you closer to His heart for you!