I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me. Song of Sol. 7:10 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, we believe you love us as much as Solomon describes with his impassioned words, but we don’t believe it as much as you intend. Heal us and free us, we pray, for you have made us for yourself and have redeemed us for yourself. By your Holy Spirit, renew, refresh, and enflame our affection for you, our adoration of you, our trust in you.
Our deepest longings find their origin and fulfillment in you. Our greatest brokenness finds its redemption through you. Our lingering fears and foolishness find their release by you. What a wonderful, merciful Savior you are—constantly pursuing us, always praying for us, irrepressibly caring for us.
We belong to you, Jesus—not by the merit of our efforts, not by the measure of our sincerity, not by the tears of our repentance, not by the pledge of our faithfulness. We belong to you, because you came to us and gave yourself for us.
By your life of perfect obedience, and your death in humble submission, you have paid a price beyond measure, to give us riches beyond calculation—to make us your beloved Bride. Nothing can sever or change our belongingness.
You desire us, Jesus—not because we show promise, but because you fulfilled every promise God made on our behalf. You defend us—not because we are choice, but because we are chosen. You delight in us—not because of anything in us, but because of everything in you. Nothing can diminish or intensify our beloved-ness. Jesus, this isn’t just a game changer; it’s an everything changer. We believe; help our unbelief.
May this all-consuming, heart-transforming, life-liberating good news free us today to live and to love to your glory, Jesus—no matter what is going on, in us or all around us. Take us further up and farther into the unsearchable riches of knowing you. So very Amen we pray, in your mercy-full and grace-full name.
