Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Intimacy with Christ

I am engaged to a wonderful woman whom I shall marry in January. Preparations for the wedding as well as for marriage have been going well for the most part. It can be a stressful time, making sure we have covered everything for the ceremony and the reception afterwards. As stressful, too, is trying to get ready to live together with someone and create a family. We are discussing decisions as big as what our life goals are and as small as how are we going to wash dishes. There is a lot of excitement too for the people who will all be coming for the wedding and the many possibilities of the future!

As part of the preparation though, I am trying to take some time to make sure I'm "ready" for that day. I say "ready" because I don't think anyone can truly be ready for all life has to offer at any given time, but you try your best and move forward. Recently, I've started to read a book called "Spousal Prayer" by Deacon James Keating. Within the first few pages, Deacon Keating speaks to a profound truth found in Scripture. Christ's Love for His Church is a spousal love and when we are called to Love our spouse it is in and through and with the Love God has for the other person. As I contemplate how this should look in my life, I'm filled with so much hope and peace for the future. It is easy for me to see all the times I have failed in the past and think about how many ways I may fail in the future. I can look at our relationship and see how much more it could be but this truth teaches me: we are not alone in this endeavor. God's Love will complete any shortcomings I may have if I allow Him to fill me with His Love for her. God's Love is so infinite, it will constantly be a source of comfort in our relationship.

Then it hit me... God Loves me in a way a husband should Love his wife. His Love for me is intimate and deep. He knows me better than anyone else and He gives me all He has because He thirsts for a complete union with me. In the depths of my soul, my desires are the same. I wish to be Loved perfectly. I crave to be in complete union with God.

Growing up, I've been blessed with people of strong faith and the opportunity to attend many spiritual events. I've had and continue to have many situations where I can see the Hand of God at work in big and small ways. I've always been told to have a personal relationship with Christ but up till recently, I've always compared it to a relationship of a friend. What I mean by this is that I treat it as I would with a casual friend: call every once in awhile, talk about what is going on, feel good about seeing all the things happening and moving on with my life. Yes, I've had times where I will be broken and God has been there to lift me up. But now, I'm asking myself, how much deeper can my relationship with God be in seeing the depth of His Love for me?

We are all called to experience Christ in this intimate way. For each of us to not only be Loved so immensely, but to be moved by that Love. How can I experience this Love if I don't spend every day allowing this Love to flow into every moment?

Since college, I've become more and more a relational person. I love talking to people and hearing their stories and telling a few of my own. Now, though, I see when I'm with other people I spend so much time on my phone responding to text messages, emails, Facebook notifications, etc. Instead of really living those moments with people next to me, I'm disconnecting myself and not truly experiencing the other person. In the same way, in my relationship with Christ, I haven't given my full attention to God. Christ, however, continues to pursue me all the more. He is there to share in my joys and sorrows, in my health and in my sickness.

So, what am I waiting for? What are you waiting for? Don't let anything in the past, present or future push you away. God knows all and still He died on the cross for you and if it meant only you would join Him, He would done it. His Love is so strong and fulfilling it will heal us of all the brokenness, all the fears, and all the pains we may have bottled up inside. He isn't asking us for perfection but a complete surrender to Him in which He makes us perfect. It is there for you in each moment of your life. Let's then take the time to sit with Him, and let Him flow in and through us.

"Awaken my soul, come awake
To hunger, to seek, to thirst
Awaken first love, come awake
And do as you did at first

Spirit of the living god come fall afresh on me
Come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
Pour in me to overflow,
To overflow

Awaken my soul, come awake
To worship with all your strength

Spirit of the living god come fall afresh on me
Come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
Pour in me to overflow,
To overflow

Come and fill this place
Let Your glory now invade
Spirit come and fill this place
Let Your glory now invade

Spirit of the living god come fall afresh on me
Come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
Pour in me to overflow,
To overflow" 
- Fall afresh by Jeremy Riddle