Will You Be Mine?

No matter male or female young or old everyone wants to be loved. I remember when I fell in love with Jesus. I was single, dealing with the heart break of my long-term boyfriend being killed, and being wooed by Jesus. At the time, I didn’t realize that Jesus was trying to get my attention. I was already saved and was sure despite any sin that I was going to heaven, so I was not checking for Jesus, but He was checking for me. I knew I could not lose my salvation and truthfully, I was content being an ankle-deep Christian. The Lord had other plans. Simple life issues began to confuse me. Things were happening that didn’t make sense and during this dark time in my life I set out to get to know the Lord better. I wanted to be able to decipher His voice from my own or from the enemy’s. I did not know that I was in for a whirlwind love affair.

As I sat down daily and began learning more about the Lord, the pull toward Him became strong. I thought ankle-deep me was already close enough to the Lord. Nonetheless, I began to learn about the type of relationship that could be had with Christ. I realized with Christ there was no heart break, no cheating, and He always wanted what was best for me. Remember this was a dark time for me and as I began to seek Christ more, my friends distanced themselves from me. I wasn’t just alone; I was lonely. But it was during that time that God said to me; “I am with you always” Matthew 28:20. However, that wasn’t enough. I continued about life but now I was being convicted greatly. “The wages of sin is death,” I heard on the television and the radio so many times one day I stopped and asked God, “Are You talking to me?” Of course, He was.

He was telling me that death wasn’t just physical but spiritual and financial. And despite knowing this was the Lord I still kept Jesus in the friend zone. Jesus, however, did not stop wooing me because I was ignoring His advances instead, He laid out flowers for me. He reminded that He loved me so much that He laid down His life for me (John 15:13). When I felt like I was not enough He reminded me that I was fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). When I was overwhelmed with grief he said, Come to Me and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30). No matter what I was feeling, Jesus had a right response. It seemed odd at first spending so much time with the Lord but eventually it felt normal. I looked forward to coming home and spending quiet time with Him. I looked forward to talking to Him throughout the day. I was in a relationship with the Lord and when I strayed, He reminded me that although I forsook Him; He would never leave or forsake me. Finally, I stopped taking the Love of Christ for granted. Broken and defeated, I repented and fell into the waiting arms of my Savior. I truly had never known a love like this. A love that chased after me, that uplifted me, that loved me when I didn’t love myself. As the song says, I was looking for love in all the wrong places. I was looking for love in too many faces. When the love I was searching for and needed I had all the time. The love of Jesus that was poured into me changed my life, my dark place was flooded with light. And I was convinced that nothing could separate me from the love God.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, this is my story, this is my song. I will love my Savior all the days long. Lord, thank You for wooing me, for not giving up on me. Thank You for showing me what real love looks like. Before there was a book talking about Love languages there was You: affirming me, touching my soul, spending time with me, and giving me gifts. Your love for us is a masterclass on how we should love others. Thank You for loving me so much that You died for me. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
By Sis. Patricia Towns