I had a dream a few days ago that shook me to the core. One of those vivid ones that stay in your memory long after you’ve had them, signalling their significance, each detail burnt into your memory. In the dream, I was running around, searching for Misty Edwards. I went everywhere she was supposed to be. I had to find her. She had some secrets of finding the Father that I had to have. Everywhere I went to locate her, she had just left. I kept missing her. I was getting distraught! There was such longing in my heart for the Father. I had to know Him better. I had to get more intimate with Him. I could actually feel the pain of the longing. I held back tears as I searched and searched for Misty, who had some secrets she could reveal about how to go deeper. I was panicked. Again I missed her. Again. Again. The tears could no longer be contained. I was weeping with such heartache for the Father. I had to know Him more. As deeply as I thought I knew Him, it was suddenly nothing, worthless, in comparison to knowing Him just that little bit more. I woke up. When I woke, the pain of the heartache was still with me. The longing was still there. The tears were just on the cusp of flowing. It was so real.

Song of Solomon 3

¹ All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. ² I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. ³ The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. “Have you seen the one my heart loves?”

Love and intimacy creates vulnerability to pain. Longing. This kind of love is foolishness to the world, and even to the religious. Leaving oneself vulnerable is considered weakness to the world, and going over the edge to the religious. But longing for God is good. It is a sign that love is real. When you miss someone so much that there is pain in the offering. It proves the love is real, despite the pain. Letting ourselves love God so much that we ache for Him, this is in reality such a good thing. All our lives in this body on this earth, we get the privilege of proving to God how much we love Him. Everyday that we long for Him and reach for Him, to get to know Him more, this is a good thing. To love Him without expecting anything in return, that is the mark of our true love of God. The beauty of it is that He cannot resist the sold out devoted lover. He cannot resist showing up when we love Him and seek Him with this kind of love…

Song of Solomon 3

⁴ Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go…

God resists the proud, but He gives Himself to the humble lover. Don’t be ashamed to love Him with everything you have. Ask, seek, knock. Your lover will come. Love Him with longing, and watch Him show up with His powerful glory presence. Then, just embrace Him and let love flow. The world doesn’t need more religious people. It needs sold out radical lovers of God. You can trust God with Your heart. Be encouraged. Be empowered. Be delivered. Glory Company