Article by Cheryl Ott
Most of us have read enchanted fairy tales or watched animated movies like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. These stories and others seem to reveal something intrinsic about our own hearts. We are fascinated with beauty. We are exhilarated by romance. We are enamored with the lives of royalty. Any idea why?
There’s Something Magical About Love, Romance And Weddings
Sure there’s the promise of bliss and living “happily ever after”. Oh, it sounds wonderful! But, there’s also the sad reality that 50% of marriages end in divorce. This is a staggering statistic. But, what is more astonishing is that those statistics do not dissuade love, romance or marriage. Divorced men and women often find love again, and many marry again. Love, romance, and weddings continue. Why?
As a kid I enjoyed many hours of play with my friends, cousins, and siblings. We would perform our very own fairy tale weddings. We would dress up as a princess, a queen, or a bride. Some weddings were grand events. Others were intimate gatherings. The joy of this was that YOUR wedding could be anything your heart desired.
In our “make believe” world, all of us would experience the delight of being chosen the bride or groom, the king or queen, the prince or princess. We were fascinated with the idea of being royalty. And we never seemed to grow tired of exploring this dream in our hearts.
Could it be that our pretend play reveals an innate longing – a craving inside all of us to be chosen, to be loved, to be cherished, to be special, to be pursued, and to be enjoyed by someone?
To Be Desired Is Powerful
It’s exhilarating, energizing, and motivating. We long to hear these words, “Will you marry me”? What happens in your heart when you hear those words? Naturally, you feel desired. You feel chosen. You feel enjoyed. You feel valued. You feel special. Why?
In The Beginning
Before creation, the heart of God passionately desired relationship. He had a plan to create men and women who would choose to receive His love and to love Him in return by their own choice. God’s heart was full of desire, affection, pleasure and delight when He made YOU. You were made in His likeness and in His image (Genesis 1:26, 27)
You were created with the capacity to have intimate relationship with God. This is a staggering truth about who you are! Think about this -God, who made billions of galaxies, used His wisdom and power to create you with the capacity to intimately relate to Him.
Consider This…
Who is the most powerful man or woman in history? And, how did they use their power? Sadly, most use their power to make servants, slaves or to deceive, manipulate, demand harshly, and control us. And how does the Creator of everything you see and can’t see use His power? He created YOU!
Love Is Not Love Without A Choice
Therefore, because of God’s love for you He created you with dignity and worth and He will never violate your free will. God never uses his power to abuse, enslave or force us to love Him. He will never make you say yes to Him.
The Original Plan In God’s Heart For You
Adam and Eve were made in the image and likeness of God. They were created to live in intimate fellowship with God in paradise, and enjoy the greatest of human pleasures. Through their own choice sin and death entered the world. Consequently, the intimate relationship that Adam and Eve enjoyed was suddenly injured by guilt and shame over their sin. Did God have a plan? Absolutely!
John 3:16 says it best, “For God loved YOU so much that He gave His only son that whoever would believe in Him would not perish (live separated from their Creator) AND would have eternal life” (live in intimate relationship with God forever). You are loved by God.
The angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and said, “….The child who has been conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit. She will have a son and you will call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins”.
There Is No Greater Love Than This
God gave His only son, Jesus, who came from heaven to earth in the lowliest, most humble conditions on earth, to live among us. Why? Because, He knew something about your design that you did not know.
You Were Not Made To Live Separated From Your Creator
Jesus’ last prayer before He went to the cross was “Father, I desire. I want to be with them. I want them to be with me” (John 17:24). Jesus asked His Father for a bride. Can you feel the desire in His heart for you? You are desired by God!
God Has Affectionate Desire For You
God described His joy, “…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). God rejoices over you!
Hosea was the first person to speak about the reality that Jesus, the Messiah, is a bridegroom. Hosea said, “It will come about in that day, declares the Lord, that you will call me husband….I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in love and kindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, then you will know the Lord”. (Hosea 2:16, 19-29).
The Kingdom Of God Is Led By A Messiah Who Is A Bridegroom
“He who has the bride is the bridegroom…” (John 3:29)
Jesus said, “… the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son…” (Matthew 22:2). Jesus, the Messiah, is a bridegroom. His heart motivation is that of a bridegroom. He has affectionate desire for you. You’re His inheritance, His eternal companion, and His love for you has been burning in His heart from the beginning. Ephesians 3:9 tells us that this MYSTERY was hidden in the heart of God for ages.
This Bridegroom will do whatever it takes to win your heart with His great love, compassion, tenderness, and righteousness. You will call Him husband, lover, protector, provider, and shepherd of your heart. He gives you security, blessings, provision, safety – a place of enduring comfort and hope. When you say yes to Him you become royalty, His cherished bride. Love, romance, and weddings first began in God’s heart!
About the Author
Cheryl Ott is the Author, Educator, and Speaker for Anchor of Hope Int’l, an organization aimed at reducing the incidence of suicide.http://www.anchorofhopeinternational.org/
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