Weddings are my favorite family celebration. Nothing is more beautiful than a woman prepared to wed the man who has captured her heart. And her man looks his most manly as he watches the woman of his dreams walk down the aisle.
We were blessed to celebrate three weddings over the past several months and each of them was perfect in their own way. Those weddings come to mind as I consider these words from author and Bible teacher Beth Moore in her book “Children of the Day”:
“Who would you be if you loved Jesus with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength? That’s what you’re meant to look like.”
Something to ponder — what would I look like if I loved my Lord in the same way I love my husband? If I gave God every part of me, surrendered and committed myself to Him with a devotion that says “take me, I’m yours; I’ll go where you lead”. How would that look on me?
I think I would be beautiful — as lovely and radiant as a bride on her wedding day.
If I made it my passion to get to know every part of Him.
If I gave Him not just a moment here and there, when I can fit Him in without inconvenience.
If I sought His counsel and considered His preferences.
If I chose Him over all others and adjusted my cadence so that I was in step with Him.
If He was the first one I turned to upon waking and the last one I sought out before sleeping.
If I loved my God with abandon, I think I would be beautiful.
When I look in the mirror in the morning, in place of the furrowed brow and down-turned mouth, I’d see eyes that sparkle and a smile that speaks of love. I would step lightly into the world, all my burdens lifted and placed on the shoulders of my Beloved. People would be drawn to this beauty and want to know my secrets.
I would have a purpose in my life beyond seeking my own satisfaction and gain. My greatest desire would be to serve and please the One that I love.
As in marriage, I may find myself drifting from this place of perfect love. This love will be threatened by………just life. But I have the assurance that His perfect love will never fail. It will be constantly flowing, with no break in the current, even when my own systems have shut down. And that is when I will learn again to just surrender.
In her teaching, Beth Moore says this:
“You don’t have to figure out what to surrender to. Just surrender every ounce of your heart to Jesus. Ask Him to give you a supernatural love for Him that surpasses anything in your human experience.”
In the words of the disciple Mark:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
And you will be beautiful.
I’m stepping back in to the commitment to write every day. I’ve missed the mark for blogging 31 days, but sometimes you’ve just got to “do life”. To visit other blogs on this journey, click on the button at left.
This.was.beautiful.
Thank you so much!
Your words are beautiful today.
Thank you, Karen!
This whole post is breathtaking! I have never thought about it that way. What an amazing thought!
Such an amazing post. (Oh and by the way I missed you)! I hope that my future husband and I love like the way we are called to love and trust in God!
Thanks, Tara! Sometimes loving God with all of me is easier than loving the man sitting across the table in the same way, but if God is at the center, it’s possible! 🙂