Wading through life

Adoration
by Ian McIntosh

Give it a listen. It just might break you and bring you to tears.

“There is a light that shines within me,
there is a hope that burns inside me.
Deep within my soul, my very existence,
there is a being waiting to be freed.

“A child who knows no fear, pain, or rejection.
There is an emotion all encompassing of
excitement, joyfulness, gladness, and love.

“The creative potential of laughter
and the undeniable power of an infants joy live inside me.
Unmeasurable are my limits for I call You FATHER.
Unimaginable my potential for You have called me son.

“There is someone inside of me, waiting to be unleashed,
whom You embrace, whom I long to be.
There is an all consuming fire,
a light that permeates from my very being.

“You have unlocked me, God.
The doors You open, no man can shut.
I will praise You for all my days, for You are good.

“You have released me, God, with Your love.
You are EVERYTHING.”

I’m getting married in 20 days. That’s a crazy, but awesome, reality! When God created me, one of the primary things He created me for was marriage. How fun to consider that 20 days from now, Heather and I will be husband and wife. Around this time, three Saturday’s from now, we’ll be dancing away like fools, enjoying our reception in each other’s company, along with family and our closest friends.

Being engaged is an amazing experience, actually. I highly recommend it. God’s been flooding me with all sorts of unexpected revelations these last few months, none of which I’ve shared about on this blog, as far as I can remember. Most have come in my Forrester while driving back from Valparaiso after a weekend with my love. Those drives, usually late at night, are typically very full of reflection, thanksgiving, prayer, intercession and worship — the last three of which do a great job keeping me awake and alert

So, over the next three weeks, I hope to dive deeper into these thoughts. I should have been jotting notes here and there all along as God’s been talking to me about this, because the specific revelations seem to have faded into the grander theme. But I have a hunch that as I dig into the theme, God will bubble many specifics back to the surface.

The grander theme is quite basic and simple, actually: A man and woman being engaged in the natural, in many ways, points to the engagement of Jesus and His bride, the church. By taking a closer look at my thoughts, feelings, longings and desires during this season of life, I’ve gleaned a new perspective on what thoughts, feelings, longings and desires God is birthing (or trying to birth) in me His church. What has been awakened in my soul from falling in love with and being engaged to Heather in the natural mirrors what should happen in the spirit as we fall in love with and are engaged to Christ. If these things aren’t happening, then one might have reason to wonder if something is missing or out of place in our relationship with Christ.

I won’t be jumping into specifics in this particular blog, but as an exercise for you married or engaged folks, I encourage you to take some time and reflect on what it was or is like to be engaged. What were your hopes and desires? What stirred you and made you happy, giddy and excited? How did things change once you had found your love, communicated your desire to spend your life with him or her, and became engaged for marriage? What priorities emerged? What things faded in importance? The list could go on for some time…Now, begin drawing some spiritual parallels to these and let the Holy Spirit talk to you about some of these dynamics in your relationship with Him. Take this idea with you into times of studying the Word and allow God to show you His desire for intimacy with you.

One of the primary symbols of our relationship to Christ is one of a bride to a bridegroom. I believe the season of enagement between a man and a women has as much potential as any to reveal how we ought to be relating to Jesus as we prepare for that great wedding in heaven.

Lord, you are holy. You are perfect. You are good and complete in every way. And I desire to see you, your name and your Word revered as such.

Lord, I ask that you send your Kingdom. We are lost without you and are in desperate need of more of you. So I ask that you come with your presence and your glory and inhabit us in a new and fresh way. I ask for more of your Spirit. I ask that you help us humbly decrease so that you could powerfully increase. Your original plan was that heaven would be established on earth, so I declare in the name of Jesus that You Who began a good work will be faithful and bring it to completion. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, give us eyes to see to the daily bread you provide. We confess, Heavenly Father, that we often crave the provision of this world more than our heavenly portion. But we ask, Father, that you help us crave the pure spiritual milk of the word, that we may grow. Yet, we thank you and praise you that as we seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, you are faithful to add to our lives the material things we need. We confess, Lord, that we are in need your provision and we trust you to provide it.

Father, many of us have been unwise in how we’ve handled what you’ve given us. We’ve accumulated debt when your Word has shown us a better way. Forgive us these sins and our debts, Father. As we honor your will and your ways for our money, I ask that you bring quick resolution to our financial burdens. Teach us to properly steward the resources given us. Empower us by your grace to bear the fruit of self-control. Give us generous hearts just as you are generous. You’ve told us that it is better to give than to receive and we declare that you are right.

And help us also be quick to forgive, just as you are. We have sinned much and have been forgiven much, Lord. Thank you so much for modeling perfect and unconditional love and forgiveness. We want to be reflections of that to the world. Much has been given to us and we acknowledge that much is now expected of us.

Lord, we know that you never tempt us. You have shown us that “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Our human nature is fallen and we as a people are in need of a savior to be made right in Your eyes. Thank you, Jesus, pure spotless lamb, for being the necessary sacrifice for our sins. Thank you for delivering us from the snare of our own fallenness. Thank you for delivering us from the evil one. You have called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light. And I thank you, Father, that when I am tempted, you always provide a way out so that I can stand up under it. I thank you that you truly have set the captives free.

You are God and there is no one like you. You are holy, completely unique and set apart from all of the created order. The heavens declare your glory, God, and the skies proclaim the work of your hands. Yet, we know that today we still only see dimly. One day we will see your glory fully. Father, we long for that day. We long to be united with you and to have the eyes of our understanding completely enlightened, that we may know you entirely.

You are worthy of all worship, honor and praise, Heavenly Father. Of the increase of your government, there will be no end. And we confess that we need your government to increase. We need your rule and influence in our lives to grow. Because we need your goodness, Father. We need your life. Apart from you, we have nothing.

Thank you for choosing and electing us to be your sons and daughters. Thank you that it is your nature to love us and your good pleasure to give us the kingdom. I love you. I ask and pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.