The Great Romance
I woke up early this morning and took a peek out the window. My breath caught in my throat. The most intense sunrise I’ve ever seen was just hanging out in the sky, like it didn’t care if anyone saw it or not.
No sounds, no warning. One minute it was dark, the next the glory of God was dissecting the sky. Just colors, waves and waves of bright red dancing on the clouds that stood on the horizon.
I grabbed my coat, boots, a hat, and my dog, and quickly went outside. Walking to the end of our long, gravel driveway, I stood in awe. It was cold, I could see my breath, but I didn’t care. It was worth it.
I grabbed a wicker chair and pulled my legs up to my chest and watched. Watched as the blazing red spread across the sky. And I was reminded of love and the way it happens upon us in such unexpected, brilliant ways.
At first, we carry this intense emotional fire. It’s so bright, and sometimes it burns right out and turns out to be nothing. But sometimes, it spreads. The intensity dies down a bit, but it fills us, becomes this steady thing. It’s beautiful and so difficult to describe. As time passes, it changes and evolves. It never looks the same one day to the next. It’s always growing and moving. It’s always fantastic and wonderful.
Sometimes, these changes make people think that the fire has gone out. When the sky evens out and the clear blue takes over, it doesn’t feel the same. The brilliance of the sunrise gives way to something a little more normal.
God’s love is a lot like this too.
He is the source of all love, after all.
See, you are being pursued. You have a lovesick bridegroom that is longing for you to give Him your attention, to give Him your whole heart.
His love is all at once intense and full of fire and steady and patient.
If you open up your heart to Him, He will set it ablaze. His love will pour in and pour out, a constant give and take. As you experience His love and His great promises and realize how personal and intimate He wants to be with you, that love will open your eyes to the people around you.
It pours in, it pours out.
God’s love is alive, and as it reaches every cell in your body, you become alive with it. It’s eternity now, a love that breathes in and out and fills.
The greatest commandment give to us by Jesus is to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Loving with openness means trusting that His very character IS love, IS goodness, and IS for us.
His thoughts for you outnumber the sand. He is holding on to you, you are His Delight, His Bride.
You can never be separated from His love. It becomes a part of your very essence. It becomes who you are, a loved, child of God. You can’t go back, can’t mess up your way out of the family. You are loved, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
He heals and makes new. Nothing can stand against this love. God is for you, always for you.
Jesus already went to the cross to pave the way for an open, intimate relationship with the Father. The point of Jesus coming was to show us that God is a Father that loves us.
This is the great romance. Every single story written in the history of mankind pales in comparison. Because we have this God who comes after us with every confidence and who holds nothing back, making His intentions known. He promises and never breaks His word. He would do anything for you, and He proved that. He longs for our friendship, to be closer than a breath. The Mighty King of all Kings desires you. The Prince will have His Bride.
We need to wake up to this love, to experience it in fullness and know His heart. This is how we will be ready for Him. This is how we conquer fear and tribulations in our life, through intimacy. Through a daily walk with Him.
Don’t let another day go by without letting Him know that you want to experience the affection He has for you. Without talking to Him. Don’t let busy-ness and stuff get in the way. These are distractions from the one who wants you to live in apathy, never knowing how incredible a life kissed by heaven can truly be. There’s always enough time to get everything done when you give Jesus your first fruits, the best few minutes of your day.
It doesn’t have to be an hour. It might be though. It just has to BE. To happen.
We have love, know love, and get to practice loving every day because He first loved us. It pours in, it pours out. We need that daily topping off in order to love with sound minds and steady hearts. Seek it, and you will find it. Go after it, and you’ll find that you were being sought long before you turned on your heel and looked behind you. There’s nothing that can separate you, no condemnation in Christ. Just grace and so much love!
prayer
Oh Jesus, awaken my heart to your love. Teach me to love fully, to trust you. I know there is more of your love, of your presence, and I want it. I want to know you more, I want the eyes of my heart enlightened to your glory and your goodness. Show me your ways, your heart. Help me to walk with you! Thank you for this opportunity to be in your presence and host your glory and know your love, it’s an incredible privilege. Thank you for your sacrifice that tore the veil and removed the barriers from knowing you. Reveal your truth to me. I love you, I want to love you more.
In your Great Name, AMEN.
