pursued by the bridegroom.

At this time last year I was creating hall decorations (goodness...that seems like forever ago). These decorations had to do with my hall theme. Well, let me tell you it was quite the process for me to decide on a hall theme. It changed every two weeks (more like every two hours). Then one summer day I heard the song Captivate by Starfield. This song made me stop what I was doing and it all just clicked. The Holy Spirit used that song to give me the theme. The theme became Captivate my Heart, with the theme verse as Psalm 37:4 ( Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart). I wanted the ladies in my hall to know that their hearts are precious to God and we should be seeking after Him as He is seeking after us. Jesus wants us. Jesus rejoices over us. Jesus loves us. Jesus provides for us. Jesus delights in us. Jesus pursues us. Jesus is our Bridegroom.

When I became an RA, I heard that your hall themes tend to be a major theme in your own lives.  Looking back over the past year (especially this summer) I can see how God used my theme in my own life. He's been teaching me a lot about how He pursues us and delights in us. He is captivated by us. Captivated by me. Psalms 37:4 talks about us delighting in God, but we often times forget that God delights in us. I read the book Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge, after I decided on my hall theme. I am now rereading it this week. I am not sure about males, but I know that females were created to be pursued. The book says, "God is the pursuer of our hearts." I think that God especially delights in those who seek after Him. With that in mind, I am being taught this summer what it means to seek after God and let Him seek after my heart. It is a joyous adventure to be on! And as this is happening, I am learning what Jesus meant when He called Himself the Bridegroom in Matthew 9:15, Matthew 25:1-10, and John 3:29. 

This means that we (the Church) are the bride. I am the bride of Christ. He has come to set me free- to heal my broken heart (since all humans' hearts are broken in some way). Jesus went back to Isaiah 61 when he first began His ministry on earth. His mission was to restore and release us, including binding up our broken hearts. This passage is incredible. Christ came to do all these things for us! When we have unity with Jesus we become one with Him. Our unity with Him also gives us a new mission.

David Platt says in Radical, “The will of God is for you and me to give our lives urgently and recklessly to making the gospel and the glory of God known among all peoples, particularly those who have never even heard of Jesus.”

That is my mission. To live so that the Gospel and glory of God is made known to ALL PEOPLE. 

There are days when it is hard to pursue Christ and live only for Him. It says in Captivating, "To pursue intimacy with Christ, you will have to fight for it. You'll need to fight busyness (Martha's addiction). You'll need to fight accusations. You'll need to fight the Thief that would try to steal your Lover's gifts to you outright" I do not want to be like Martha, but like Mary (in Luke 10:38-42). She truly worshiped God. I do become busy and distracted, but Christ continues to call me back.

Lastly, "Our hearts were made to worship. It is what we do; we can't help it....Worship is what we give our hearts away to in return for a promise of Life." I have given my heart to God and I worship Him for giving me life and sending the world Jesus, our Bridegroom, and our Savior! I am going to continue to pursue and love the Lord, as He pursues me. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE BRIDEGROOM TO RETURN. Until that day, I will live for Him and worship Him because He saved me for the sake of His holy name. 

(Here is a great post about the Bride of Christ by Mike from Tenth Ave. North- Beloved Blog). 

the lyrics of this song caught my attention. it is by john mark mcmillan.