My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.” Song of Songs 2:10
Lord Jesus, the evidence is clear and convicting. It’s time for un-rushed, uncluttered, Spirit-kissed time with you. Emotional tiredness and wandering thoughts, more being busy than beholding your beauty, quicker irritation than lingering adoration… but above every indicator, you tell us it’s time to seek your face—to come away to be with you.
What a Lord, what a Savior, what a Bridegroom… you say to us, “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.” That you address us as “my love, my beautiful one,” is astonishing. The only beauty we have is what you’ve given us—the robe of your righteousness, our hiddenness in you, and your life in us. But what a magnificent supply this is. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
That you desire rich, intimate time with us is life-giving. Jesus, it’s hard to live as a Mary in a Martha world (Luke 10:38-42). Obligations, distractions, empty-nothings, and crises all conspire to crowd you out. That’s a confession of sin, an excuse.
Since our calendars tell the real story, and our schedules are the measure of our sincerity, we will make time for you—you, the One who loves and delights in us as none other; the One who is the Lord of all time and space; the One whom to know is eternal life; the One who prays for our joy and who is our peace.
Jesus, in these last weeks of August, speak to us afresh; renew our affection for you; center and settle us… by your Word and through your creation, in stillness and aloneness, in tears and laughter; in our brokenness and by your beauty. So very Amen we pray, in your great and grace-full name.
