“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” | Psalm 42:1
The Lord is stirring a great hunger in this hour. He says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). The Lord is inviting us to have deeper encounters with His heart. He is calling forth His bride into a greater depth of intimacy that she has not previously known or experienced before:
“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me‘” (Song of Songs 2:10-13).
As we continue to pursue our Bridegroom—our first Love—and say no to the distractions that would seek to take our eyes off of Him, we will find ourselves to be like Mary. We will be fully satisfied sitting at the feet of Jesus, pouring out our love upon Him. I sense that Jesus’ heart is to woo His bride, even amidst the noise. Choose the better thing: to abide in the secret place. Allow yourself to be fully known by Him. It is in this place that you will be fully satisfied. “Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere …” (Psalm 84:10).
As we continue to abide in His presence, we will be changed from the inside out. The Lord is calling us out into the deeper waters, beyond the shore and the places where we feel safe. He is beckoning us, longing for us to know that where He leads is truly the safest place to be.
I believe that supernatural encounters are in store for those who choose to come away into that deeper place of intimacy with Him. The Lord breaking bondages; chains of fear, insecurity, and anxiety are being broken, and the captives are being set free! I see prison doors being swung open, and those who were once bound are walking out—unhindered, and completely free. Listen to the Chain-breaker saying, “Take off those grave clothes and put on your new robes, the robes I have given you!”
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10).
A great exchange is taking place, as we bravely follow where He is leading us. His strength is being perfected, even in our weakness. Allow the Lord to do a deep work in you, as He has been doing a deep heart surgery on many. We serve a gentle God. He is so skilled and precise; He knows what we need before we even say a word. For “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
God is fanning the embers into a burning flame; hearts are being awakened with a holy hunger and a burning passion for His Name. These ones will be lovers of His presence! Continue to pursue Him and seek Him like a hidden treasure. As you do, you will be transformed and filled with His peace and joy. “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).