♕ Today's Promise: “And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18
Dear Brides, when we love something or someone whose dear to our hearts, we do everything we can do to be the "perfect" match for them. We want to please them. We go out of our way to woo them and be everything they desire. In this chapter 13, “If You Love Me,” we learn that this characteristic of our being, is what we should be doing before our Beloved. We want to win His heart but the best thing is that He already loves us! However, we need to know what is expected of us. In this expectation, we will then show Him exactly how much we love Him through our obedience and love for Him and His authority as we show it to others.
It is really fairly simple, I need to obey the authorities over me, even if they are not watching me. It is a matter of remaining obedient with or without anyone watching me, for I do everything unto my Love. He sees it all.
I have struggled in the past with authority especially when they were placing the blame on me when it was their (my former boss’) fault. My name was the “go-to,” to cover up his shortcomings. If I was wrong, I did not have a problem admitting it BUT when my name was being run through the mud for things that did not have anything to do with me...I did not appreciate that. I knew the truth and I knew that I was not to blame. It was a very trying and hard time for me. I did not have the relationship I have now with my Beloved.
I did everything in my own power and strength. Looking back I see how it damaged and scarred me for years. I worked there for almost 5 years and I tried for 4 years to get out of there with no success. I was overworked, underpaid, stressed to the max, my marriage and family were suffering because I had to work. It was a dark time in my life and I can see it all now, looking back. Until recently, the scars of that job ran deep within me. I did learn a lot, but oh if I would have had my Beloved in my heart how things would have been so different. For this, the unethical issues of my authorities took its toll on me. I could not submit to someone like that any longer, nor have my name associated with it.
By the grace of God, I was able to leave. However, only a few short months later, I began “standing” for my marriage which now, 3.5+ years later, I transitioned from standing to going on a journey with my Beloved.
Being in FULL surrender and FULL obedience. After knowing what He "requires" of me, the wisdom and knowledge I have gained, it all comes down to doing the things asked and expected of me when others are around or not, having integrity and work unto Him.
He will bless me for what I do in the presence or not in the presence of others. I work and serve under my Beloved. I am accountable unto Him.
Let us pray as we take His yoke, easy and light: My Baby Love, I need Your help to continue to change me. I am helpless and hopeless. I need to continue to be molded into Your image. It appears that I am a slow learner. I want to be Your reflection to others. I want to show Your love to those around me. I want to be filled with Your radiance, I want to glow, for Your glory. Nothing to do with me but ALL to do with You. My Love, I fail you daily. Help me to hear Your gentle soft voice louder and louder. I want Your will to be done, not mine. Guide me. Protect me. Correct me. Use me. Mold me. Change me. I want to be Your Bride.
Dear Brides, the principle of obedience to those over us, our authorities, can be extremely challenging in the day to day grind. It can especially be hard when the authorities over us are cunning, unethical, rude, selfish, etc. I know, for my former boss was just this way. My name was run through the mud to try to cover up his shortcomings. At the time, I did not know my Beloved the way that I do now. As I look back, I see how difficult it was and as a result, because I was trying to do it all in my own strength and power, I was overstressed, oppressed, gained a lot of weight, overworked, my marriage and family suffered. I had "no choice" cause we needed my income. Not once, did I call and lay it before the Lord. There were times that I cried to Him because I could not handle it but I continued to pour my soul out in this job.
In doing so, I was being robbed even more of everything. I say all that, to say, in this chapter, “If You Love Me,” I learned that I still needed to be obedient unto Him. In trying to do this all on my own, I was scarred deep from this. I suffered many years, 4 out of my 5 years of work there, to be exact, as I could not find a new job for that amount of time to save my life.
For when I did finally get to quit, I had a small reprieve, as only a few months later my husband left and my marriage was destroyed. Hence, this is where I began my "stand." Which once again brought me to and through another 3.5+ years until NOW. I have discovered and am no longer standing but embracing this journey. I have found my new Love. I have found my peace, joy and Love.
I have learned that my disobedience, though the reasons behind it, whether just or unjust on my part, brought me to where I am now. I now know the truth that I need to be obedient to the authorities above me and any concerns I have, I need to bring them before my Love in order to show Him my love for Him.
This book is a breath of fresh air. This book is the foundation to growing in and living a life of abundance with your Beloved. Come and discover what you have been missing.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” John 14:15
This verse is simple to read and understand BUT it is another thing to truly understand and do it. He wants me to know that if I love Him, I will obey Him. Period!
~ Olivia in California
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