“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9). “I belong to my beloved (Jesus), and his desire is for me.” (Song of Songs 7:10). “To him who loves us… be glory and power for ever and ever! Look, he is coming...” (Rev. 1:5,7)
Lord Jesus, here’s to an abiding-shaped, longing-fueled, grace-paced 2023. Whether we can’t remember a day without you, or came to faith in a different season of life—we want to know, love, and serve you with more passion than ever.
By your Spirit, restore in us the joy of the Gospel, the delight of our first-love, and the surrender we gave you when we were first able to say, “I belong to Jesus and his desire is for me.” Those were the sweetest days ever.
We felt so free because we were free. We felt so alive because you raised us to newness of life in yourself. We felt so “yours”—and that’s all that really mattered.
But alas, even as you warned us, all kinds of “suitors,” lovers, fears, and idols began vying for attention, affection, and preoccupation. But no idol, lover, sack of gold, or place in an org-chart died to save us.
Only you did, Jesus. Only you love us with everlasting love—a love that is better than life itself. Only you are worthy of everything have and are.
So, come, Lord Jesus, come. Literally come. Come by your Spirit in renewing, refreshing, and restoring power. And come as in “2nd Coming-coming”—physically, gloriously, triumphantly. Oh that 2023 would be the year! So Very Amen.