“I am my beloved’s, and he claims me as his own—his desire is for me.” Song of Sol. 7:10
Lord Jesus, sometimes we feel like our hearts have a Teflon coating on them. Not keeping food from burning and sticking, but keeping the Gospel from sinking in and enflaming our hearts. Change that Lord. Make the truth of this one verse explode afresh, like a grace-fire in our hearts.
What keeps us from reveling and resting in your great love for us? Sometimes we’re like Esau, choosing a bowl of “real” food over the promise of a great inheritance (Gen. 25, 27). The arms of a human lover wrapped around us offer immediate connection and consolation—especially when our intimacy with you has been disrupted, ignored, or chilled. Jesus, free us. Heal us. Re-enthrall us.
Make the Gospel true, good, and beautiful to us all over again. We belong to you, Jesus. Not like a trophy on the shelf, but a treasure in your heart. You desire us, Jesus—not that we might do something for you, but that you might give more of yourself to us. You cherish and delight in us—not a future glorified version of us, but right now, in full view of our brokenness, messes, and heart-drift. Nothing can diminish or intensify our belovedness.
We “know” that; but we want to KNOW it Jesus. We want to live “smitten,” humbled, and gladdened by you, Jesus. Can dead bones live again? (Ezek. 37). Can chilled hearts become passionate hearts anew? Can heart drift become heart delight afresh? Yes! Yes! And Yes!—to these three Gospel-claimed rhetorical questions. Hallelujah, and Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us. So Very Amen.