***
A few nights ago, I woke up hearing the whisper of God softly, lovingly saying "...but I'm not after a Child-Bride! It's time for Maturity to manifest in the Church."
OK. I get that.
I could tell there was more to it, however I somehow slept through the first part of that conversation! A few hours later after some coffee and --well, being vertical for a bit-- I sat down again and asked Him a few questions. You know, for clarity!
He reaffirmed that yes, we are His Beloved Children... and yes, we are His Beloved Bride. We are both --but He's not coming back for a Child-Bride.
He's ready for us to mature into
the Lover He longs for!
The one who makes Him proud!
He was quick to bring up Scriptures I'm well aware of...
He reminded me of verses like:
We get this, right?
We know that we are grafted in, adopted, and called His own!
We know that we've become part of the Family and that He is a good, good Father! We are children of God, whom He loves more than we could ever truly fathom!
The trickier truth that we also know but seldom wrap our fleshly thinking around is that we are both His children and His Bride.
We are, in every sense of the word,
His Beloved.
From the beginning He has loved us... and within every possible loving, earthly relationship, He wants to capture our hearts and show uswhat WHO Love really is!
And what is more romantic and enrapturing than a Bridegroom and his Bride? To give all of our heart to someone else and to fully receive their heart in return!
This is what He is asking and offering...
but to fully walk in the glory of it,
it takes maturity.
I believe our earthly relationships pale in comparison to how He loves us... but they are great starting points, right? And we know that the Bible talks about how Christ is coming back for a Bride who is pure and spotless... without blemish or blame.
We can't really talk about being His Beloved Bride without, of course, talking about Song of Solomon. #swoon! However it is also nearly impossible to pick just a few verses from this book in the Bible! Do yourself a favor, and read through the whole thing! Do it in The Passion Translation, if possible! #yourewelcome
As I read through these verses again, and reflected on what I heard the Lord speaking in the early dark hours of daybreak, I heard Him yet again.
He said, "You're My Beloved Child... AND you're My Beloved Bride! But I'm not coming back for a Child-Bride. It's time for the Body of Christ to mature. It's TIME for the Body of Christ to grow up, because I'm coming back for a Bride that is child-like, but not immature!"
We all have blind spots and mountains that we circle around over and over and over. But He's already said, "It is finished!" And I believe He meant it!
Immediately upon hearing this, I bent lower in prayer.
I began to thank Him for revelation knowledge, for encounters with His Holy Spirit, for whatever needs to happen for that mind shift to skip in to gear and not be able to slip back out! Not just for me... but for you, too!
I began to declare in prayer an increase of maturity, so that we would walk around AS IF we are living in heaven, now --here, on earth! So that what we have will be contagious and people will see the difference. They'll know we are Christians by our love-- which, Hello!?-- That's what Jesus said and that's not so much happening. So let's make that happen!
But they'll also see we're Christians because we're at peace, we're full of joy, we're slow to anger and quick to pray... They'll see that we're not sick... we're not racked up, we're not full of hate and bitterness and unforgiveness.
They'll see that we're full of Love...
That's what He was talking about.
To be mature is to be full of grace... understanding... compassion.
To be able to step back and look at things from a higher perspective...
--from someone else's perspective, maybe.
It's the ability to think things through and behave accordingly,
without needing constant supervision.
It's the ability to choose wisdom... to choose Love...
even when our flesh is crying out to do exactly the opposite!
Even When... we're called to live life As If...
...as if we are living in heaven on earth.
as if we are mature and in love.
as if we knowwhat WHO Love is!
This, I believe, is the maturity the Lord is looking for!
This is the Lover He longs for!
So I pray there will be a release of supernatural Love that will help us to live Kingdom Lifestyles --Heaven, on earth!-- today, in this season, at this time, for His glory!
In Jesus' Name!
***
What about you?
What are your thoughts on
being both the Beloved Child
and the Beloved Bride of Christ?
What are some tips to help
encourage or deepen a maturity
in our romance and walk
with our Bridegroom...
the Lover of our soul,
the King of our heart?
He reminded me of verses like:
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." 1 John 3:2
"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." Romans 8:15-16
We get this, right?
We know that we are grafted in, adopted, and called His own!
We know that we've become part of the Family and that He is a good, good Father! We are children of God, whom He loves more than we could ever truly fathom!
The trickier truth that we also know but seldom wrap our fleshly thinking around is that we are both His children and His Bride.
We are, in every sense of the word,
His Beloved.
From the beginning He has loved us... and within every possible loving, earthly relationship, He wants to capture our hearts and show us
And what is more romantic and enrapturing than a Bridegroom and his Bride? To give all of our heart to someone else and to fully receive their heart in return!
This is what He is asking and offering...
but to fully walk in the glory of it,
it takes maturity.
I believe our earthly relationships pale in comparison to how He loves us... but they are great starting points, right? And we know that the Bible talks about how Christ is coming back for a Bride who is pure and spotless... without blemish or blame.
"He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach" Colossians 1:22
"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." 2 Cor 11:2
"...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you." Isaiah 62:5
“And it shall be, in that day,” Says the Lord, “That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ And no longer call Me ‘My Master..." Hosea 2:16
"...Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." Rev 21:9
We can't really talk about being His Beloved Bride without, of course, talking about Song of Solomon. #swoon! However it is also nearly impossible to pick just a few verses from this book in the Bible! Do yourself a favor, and read through the whole thing! Do it in The Passion Translation, if possible! #yourewelcome
As I read through these verses again, and reflected on what I heard the Lord speaking in the early dark hours of daybreak, I heard Him yet again.
He said, "You're My Beloved Child... AND you're My Beloved Bride! But I'm not coming back for a Child-Bride. It's time for the Body of Christ to mature. It's TIME for the Body of Christ to grow up, because I'm coming back for a Bride that is child-like, but not immature!"
We all have blind spots and mountains that we circle around over and over and over. But He's already said, "It is finished!" And I believe He meant it!
Immediately upon hearing this, I bent lower in prayer.
I began to thank Him for revelation knowledge, for encounters with His Holy Spirit, for whatever needs to happen for that mind shift to skip in to gear and not be able to slip back out! Not just for me... but for you, too!
I began to declare in prayer an increase of maturity, so that we would walk around AS IF we are living in heaven, now --here, on earth! So that what we have will be contagious and people will see the difference. They'll know we are Christians by our love-- which, Hello!?-- That's what Jesus said and that's not so much happening. So let's make that happen!
But they'll also see we're Christians because we're at peace, we're full of joy, we're slow to anger and quick to pray... They'll see that we're not sick... we're not racked up, we're not full of hate and bitterness and unforgiveness.
They'll see that we're full of Love...
That's what He was talking about.
To be mature is to be full of grace... understanding... compassion.
To be able to step back and look at things from a higher perspective...
--from someone else's perspective, maybe.
It's the ability to think things through and behave accordingly,
without needing constant supervision.
It's the ability to choose wisdom... to choose Love...
even when our flesh is crying out to do exactly the opposite!
Even When... we're called to live life As If...
...as if we are living in heaven on earth.
as if we are mature and in love.
as if we know
This, I believe, is the maturity the Lord is looking for!
This is the Lover He longs for!
So I pray there will be a release of supernatural Love that will help us to live Kingdom Lifestyles --Heaven, on earth!-- today, in this season, at this time, for His glory!
In Jesus' Name!
***
What about you?
What are your thoughts on
being both the Beloved Child
and the Beloved Bride of Christ?
What are some tips to help
encourage or deepen a maturity
in our romance and walk
with our Bridegroom...
the Lover of our soul,
the King of our heart?
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND THROUGH ME REGARDING SABBATH REST AND I TURNED MY 31 DAYS SERIES INTO AN E-BOOK ON AMAZON. IF YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF IN NEED OF REST (WHICH --WHO ISN'T, REALLY?) CHECK OUT THIS SHORT, DAILY DEVOTIONAL 31 DAYS OF RESTING IN GOD ...IT'S EASIER/HARDER THAN YOU THINK!
YOU CAN PURCHASE IT BY CLICKING HERE OR GRABBING IT FROM THE SIDE BAR TO THE RIGHT IF REST IS SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU NEED, BUT JUST KEEP PUTTING OFF!
Also now available: 31 Days of Truths We Know... It's just that Sometimes We Forget. A Month long devotional full of truths that we know, but often need to be reminded of! Written in the same 31 day format, this devotional is full of hope and truth and inspiration --and we could all use a healthy dose of all of those things right about now, right? click here to purchase.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND THROUGH ME REGARDING SABBATH REST AND I TURNED MY 31 DAYS SERIES INTO AN E-BOOK ON AMAZON. IF YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF IN NEED OF REST (WHICH --WHO ISN'T, REALLY?) CHECK OUT THIS SHORT, DAILY DEVOTIONAL 31 DAYS OF RESTING IN GOD ...IT'S EASIER/HARDER THAN YOU THINK! YOU CAN PURCHASE IT BY CLICKING HERE OR GRABBING IT FROM THE SIDE BAR TO THE RIGHT IF REST IS SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU NEED, BUT JUST KEEP PUTTING OFF!
Also now available: 31 Days of Truths We Know... It's just that Sometimes We Forget. A Month long devotional full of truths that we know, but often need to be reminded of! Written in the same 31 day format, this devotional is full of hope and truth and inspiration --and we could all use a healthy dose of all of those things right about now, right? click here to purchase.
Very interesting thoughts on the bride,I agree we need to mature,
ReplyDeleteThankfully - He is right here with us --IN us, wanting the same thing! He's so gracious and kind! Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteI love the thought of and the prayer for..."an increase of maturity, so that we would walk around AS IF we are living in heaven, now --here, on earth!" Now that is something to seek and pray for!
ReplyDeleteRight? Amen! That is something --no matter our journey or length of time we've spent walking with Him-- we could all pray for and put to use! Thanks so much for stopping by, Amy!
DeleteThis is good. I think there is a balance here. On one side we can become so focused on "being" that perfect bride, we lose focus of our God Who accepts us and loves us for who we are. We can literally try SO hard to be what He wants, we miss that what He wants, He already has. At the same time, He loves us so much, He wants us to know and experience His love more by growing deep roots into Him (Eph 3:17-20). So it's not about becoming better, but simply allowing God to move, change and transform our thought to be more like His. Less striving, more thriving! Love this!
ReplyDeleteYes! I think the key word is BEING (rather than DOING) ;) I mean - there IS stuff to be done, for sure --but when it comes to maturing in Him, we do it simply by being WITH Him! Amen! xoxo
DeleteI agree that we need to deepen our maturity in Christ and the only way to do this is to go back to basics and spend time in His word. Soaking it in and learning from it, and to spend time with Him. The more we do this, the more we grow.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Lynne! Every time! Every time we spend time with Him... we grow!
Delete