By God's grace, I met the True Lover of my soul 10 years ago. He literally pursued me unto death so that I may have life in Him. He never stopped pursuing me even after entering into a love relationship with Him. In this relationship, I discovered and experienced how satisfying a life with Him could be.
I learned to see God's pursuit of me in everything.
Sometimes, it comes in the form of birds singing early in the morning, clouds covering me from the blazing sun, trees bending creatively along a busy road, the moon and the stars elegantly sketched in the night sky, or a white pelican-looking bird seemingly out of place in the Pasig River. Love notes from heaven, as I call them. This has happened countless times and in many different forms over the years.
God knows how to catch my attention and how to strike a love chord in my heart. This is why I love walking slowly--so I can notice the hand of God in everything and breathe them all in.
My favorite love note from God is that of falling leaves.
There was a time when I was in college, I was so heartbroken that I needed to retreat in a garden in my university. I sat down quietly, read my Bible...and got frustrated because even God's word didn't seem to make sense.
My favorite love note from God is that of falling leaves.
There was a time when I was in college, I was so heartbroken that I needed to retreat in a garden in my university. I sat down quietly, read my Bible...and got frustrated because even God's word didn't seem to make sense.
As I sat still, a sudden gust of wind sent the leaves spiralling down in front of me. The sight of falling leaves reminded me that God sees me. In my heart that afternoon, I knew God was saying, "I know you'd be here so I prepared this for you." The Master Artist crafted that masterpiece for me. I might have blushed for the grandiosity of it for I wasn't used to that kind of treatment. I was heartbroken no more.
One busy morning, before going to the office, I prayed, "Surprise me, Lord. Konting kilig lang today please." Much to my dismay, I was stuck in terrible traffic, in a very hot morning. Plus, the shuttle driver dropped me off to Mega B, instead of Mega A. To top it all off, I forgot my umbrella. I was very irritated at the driver that I slammed the door. As I started walking, I noticed that the side walk was carpeted with yellow flowers from the trees along Mega B. God arranged every detail of that morning for me to see that display of affection. I was too embarrassed for my attitude, especially when the wind caused the flowers to rain down on me. Totally undeserved.
One busy morning, before going to the office, I prayed, "Surprise me, Lord. Konting kilig lang today please." Much to my dismay, I was stuck in terrible traffic, in a very hot morning. Plus, the shuttle driver dropped me off to Mega B, instead of Mega A. To top it all off, I forgot my umbrella. I was very irritated at the driver that I slammed the door. As I started walking, I noticed that the side walk was carpeted with yellow flowers from the trees along Mega B. God arranged every detail of that morning for me to see that display of affection. I was too embarrassed for my attitude, especially when the wind caused the flowers to rain down on me. Totally undeserved.
But then there will be times when your heart will run after other things, hoping to be filled with things that do not really satisfy.
Early this year, I felt frustrated and discontented. I've never felt so embittered in my whole life as I think of how it must have delighted God to answer my prayer to allow only one man to pursue me. God challenged me to pray this prayer many years ago. I was apprehensive about it because I was sure it would mean I had to fight my own feelings of insecurity. The world's standards lead us to believe that the number of men pursuing a woman is determinant of her beauty. But not so in God's economy. God was actually inviting me to allow Him to protect me from second best.
Early this year, I felt frustrated and discontented. I've never felt so embittered in my whole life as I think of how it must have delighted God to answer my prayer to allow only one man to pursue me. God challenged me to pray this prayer many years ago. I was apprehensive about it because I was sure it would mean I had to fight my own feelings of insecurity. The world's standards lead us to believe that the number of men pursuing a woman is determinant of her beauty. But not so in God's economy. God was actually inviting me to allow Him to protect me from second best.
However, waiting took its toll on me. My heart was gloomy--as if there was a dark cloud looming over me. For days I asked myself what it was that I really wanted but could not get. When I think about it, a relationship would not satisfy me at the least. If there's something that I really value in being single, it is my independence. The inconvenience of changes and adjustments in entering into a relationship does not attract me even :P I was so confused as I tried to figure out what was wrong.
God patiently walked me through it. He sure knows the hidden curves and edges of my heart.
He showed me that somewhere along the way, I stopped looking to Him for joy and satisfaction. I stopped looking to Him for being pursued and being treated special. I shut off my God-kilig radar. I stopped taking note of how God had been relentlessly pursuing me. I stopped looking to Him as my Lover.
How I missed out on life because the eyes of my heart were shut as He dons my day with expressions of love. I missed out on so much by focusing on what I do not have and what I do not yet have.
By God's grace, I took a U-turn and started walking slowly with Him again, allowing Him to pursue me and sweep me off my feet with His love notes as I used to do. Sometimes the love notes come in the form of peace in the midst of a confusing circumstance, joy in the midst of pain, comfort in a crying spree, strength when I am weak, power when I am afraid. He never runs out of creative ways to keep me in awe of His love.
It's a great blessing to have a God who wants to satisfy us with His love.
The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11
Celebrate life with God. Take time to intentionally look for His love notes for you and come to Him with a grateful heart, for each one of them is an act of grace.
Be satisfied in Him; for only He can satisfy your deepest desires.
People are searching. Yet the more they try to get, the more they realize how little they really have. No pleasure or happiness is possible without God. Without him, satisfaction is a lost search. Above everything we should strive to know and love God. He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy. Life apart from God is empty, hollow, and meaningless. - LifeApp
May you be romanced by the King, all the days of your life :)
Whom have I in heaven but You? There is nothing on earth I desire besides You. Psalm 73:26
You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing. Psalm 16:2
You make known to me the path of life; You fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11
Take delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
