Day 7 - June 19
Love's First Kiss
“There must be something
your little heart desires. Perhaps there's someone you love.” said the old hag.
“Well there is someone,”
admitted Snow White.
“I thought so! Now take the
apple dearie, and make a wish and take a bite…”
"I wish, I wish...Oh I feel strange,
I...”
And with these words, Snow White fell to the floor, locked in a
sleeping death only the kiss of love could break. She remained there through a
cycle of seasons, until one day, her Prince found her and gently kissed her.
The miracle of Love's First Kiss awakened her from slumber and with great joy
and cheering in the forest, Snow White and they Prince rode away to his kingdom
where they lived happily ever after.
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The hour has come for you
to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we
first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. Romans 13:11-12
God is looking to awaken the
heart of His Bride. Sometimes in the busyness of life and even in the intensity
of our service and obedience to the Lord, the passion of our heart’s devotion to
the Lord can become dulled. We forget the intensity of first love.
My soul yearns for you in the
night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. Isaiah 26:9
I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Psalm 143:6
My soul clings to you; your
right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 84:2
Today God is looking not to
revive us for a season of renewed love. He wants us to consecrate ourselves to
a lifetime of intimate communion with Him. He wants to kiss us and bring us
back to life, forever.
Let him kiss me with the
kisses of his mouth- for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is
the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder
the maidens love you! Take me away with you-let us hurry! Let the king bring me
into his chambers. Song of
Songs 1:2-4
With intimacy, comes the
revelation that our only true strength or ability flows from the place of
abiding. (Psalm 91, John 15). We can be content to abide in His
presence until He speaks and sends us out, with authority, to accomplish His
purposes. But then we will hurry back to the secret place of abiding, satisfied
to rest in His presence until He speaks again.
Only from this place of
intimacy will true authority for the church come. Only in His presence,
beholding Him, will we be truly changed and transformed. (2 Corinthians
3:18)
The God who made you, the Lord
who bought you with His precious blood is longing for you: will you come?
Prayer
Points and Practical Actions
-
Take time out today, intentionally to wait in God’s presence. Don’t fill
the time with prayers or petitions. Just worship Him and let Him speak
words of love to your heart. Click
here to enter in with some intimate worship (Kiss Me with the Kisses of Your
Mouth and I Love You, by Heather Clark)
and prayers of consecration.
-
Ask God to reveal things to you things you may be doing, not from pure
obedience, but from a sense of routine or obligation to others. Sometimes,
we can serve because of our own needs for recognition or affirmation or
because we are afraid of the disapproval of others. Ask God to cleanse you
of any hidden motives or desires so that you can be led purely by His voice.
(John 10:27)
-
Commit
today to make “abiding” a way of daily life. Look at how you can make time
daily to wait in His presence. (Psalm 16:11) Make a covenant with
the Lord that you will not initiate anything – in your life, your ministry,
your church – but wait until He speaks. And when He speaks, you will do
whatever it takes to be obedient. Commit to a life abandoned intimacy with
Him.
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