"I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me." - Song of Solomon 7:10
I firmly believe that
when people say, "Well, the honeymoon is over." that is not
necessarily a bad thing.
Think
about it! You still love one another. Even though your relationship is more
mature now and the secrets are all unveiled and it feels less
"thrilling", it is actually more stable, comfortable, sweet and
secure. In the Song of Solomon we see a couple that are head over heels in love
with one another. There is plenty of affection flowing between them; but even
when her lover is out tending to his responsibilities, they are still very much
in love.
That
is how our relationship with God is too. The emotional "high" in the
beginning of our relationship with Christ is like meeting a new friend. At
first we are all excited about the novel bond. We are actually consumed with
it. Over time, we get more familiar, comfortable and more relaxed with God's
love as well.
There
is a danger here, of taking God or our mate for granted, which is what causes
most relationships to fail. However, if we express gratitude for everything God
and our mate does for us, even the little things, which they do every day to
prove their love, we will escape the trap of taking them for granted.
With
this solid connection, the relationship will never end. We do not have to worry
about our mate leaving us or abandoning us when we are in need. We have a
history, which withstood the test of time, and which will continue as long as
we are both willing to consider one another’s needs.
God
will always be here for us too, even when people let us down. He is here for us even
when others are too busy or sleeping or if they do not get the message we leave
them until the next day. God never sleeps (Psalm 121:4) and He is always
available for us (Jeremiah 33:3).
Reading
the Bible keeps us connected to God. This exercise is not about feelings
either. It is about obedience. We read the Word even when we do not get
anything out of it at that moment, because sure enough, down the road, you are
going to need what you just read today!!!!
If you
do not know where to start studying the Bible, then read a Psalm and Proverb
every day. On the first day of the month, read the first Psalm and Proverb. On
the second day, read the second Psalm and Proverb. Repeat this every day of
every month and you will always find things that you did not see when you read
it the last month.
I have
done this for over 40 years, and I almost have many verses memorized by now.
However, I still see some of the verses or even one word in a verse from a new
perspective each time I read it again! Then, if I have extra alone time, I read
an epistle or a gospel each month too...one chapter, or even a few verses a
day. His Words are life to our Spirit. God does something in our spirit every
time we read His Word, even if our soul - our mind, actions and emotions - get
nothing out of it at the time we read it.
The
honeymoon inevitably ends, but the love that sprung up during the courtship
will only mature throughout the years, and grow more mellow, seasoned and able
to withstand the storms of life.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us not
to look for that emotional "high" in our relationship with You and
with one another. Help us to relax and to enjoy the mature relationship we have
now and to appreciate what the relationship really means to us.
Thought
for the Day:
Jesus is the savior of our spirit, the lover of our soul and the
glorifier of our body.
