I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. Hos. 2:19
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isa. 62:5
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” Rev. 19:6-8
Lord Jesus, our oldest ache, deepest craving, greatest delight can only be understood in light of these Scriptures. We crave intimacy because you wrote it into our DNA. We’re love-hungry, because you’ve made us for yourself. We’re wired for hope, because you’ve secured a future for us that exceeds everything we could ask or imagine.
You are the Spouse we always wanted, the Savior we always needed, and the Sovereign we alone can trust. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we ask you to take us “further up and further in”—take us deeper and deeper into the wonders of your love, the Alps of your grace, and the vastness of your delight.
Free us from our heart-dulling doubts and dogged disbelief. Forgive us for looking to any human being, affair, success, or possessions to give us what we can only find in you.
For those of us that are married, liberate us from under-believing the riches of the gospel and over-expecting our marriages to give us what they were never meant to deliver. Free us, as spouses to love each other, as you—our ultimate Spouse, loves us. For those of us who are single, make it palpably and profoundly real that, indeed, we are married to you. This isn’t sentimental spin; it’s spectacular news.
Jesus, we praise, bless, and adore you for so great a salvation, so marvelous a story, and so eternal a joy. So very Amen we pray, in your great and grace-full name.
