“Therefore, I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of Egypt.� Hosea 2:14-15
Lately, I have been feeling like I am in the desert. Although I’ve been on the race now for almost 7 weeks, I have not been pursuing God like I should. Quiet times are difficult to squeeze out of early mornings, and by the evening, my brain is so fried all I want to do is sleep. I see God has allowed me into this desert place to realize He is what I need.
I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about this process of pilgrimage—how we have left Egypt (America) where things were easy and comfortable, where we were slaves to 9-5 jobs, the media, others’ expectations, our own failures, our pasts, and are now in the desert, relying on God’s provision until we get to the Promised Land.
God let me get to this point of being in the desert,to get me vulnerable. He is putting me somewhere I am hot and uncomfortable, where I am alone and lonely, to force me to confront my life. He can speak to me here where the other voices are silenced by distance and by his presence. He is removing distractions and doubt, to allure me to him.
And God is speaking to me. He is breaking chains off of me that have hindered who I am and who I could be in him. He is releasing me to be the woman of God he has created me to be. He is speaking truth into my life, love into my heart. I am becoming his beloved.
I must walk through this desert to get to the Promised Land. Thankfully, it is God’s faithfulness pulling me through and making me faithful. Praise Him.
“Give me your life, the lust and the lies, the past you’re afraid I might see. You’ve been running away from me.
Love of my life, look deep in my eyes, there you will find what you need. I’m the giver of life, I’ll clothe you in white, my immaculate bride you will be. Oh come running home to me.
You’ve been mistress, my wife. You’re chasing lovers that won’t satisfy. Won’t you let me make you my bride? You will drink of my lips and you’ll taste new life.
You’re my BELOVED, Lover, I’m yours. Death shall not part us—it’s you I died for. For better or worse, forever we’ll be. My love it unites us, and it binds you to me. It’s a mystery.�
—Beloved by Tenth Avenue North. <<Watch<<
