First Comes Love…

My “aha” encounters with the Lord are sometimes quite humorous, while at the same time they are usually extremely weighty and cause a major shift in my mindset. This one is no exception. Bear with me because I believe this will be like a healing balm for many of you.

One morning I said to the Lord, “I just want to feel your arms around me again”. What I heard next in my spirit was, “My arms have been around you this whole time”. It spoke to my heart because of the extensive amount of grief I had been living with for several years. It was as if I had a dark cloud over me, and although I could sense that cloud was beginning to lift, I was feeling distant from the Lord and not connected to Him. After hearing those comforting words from Him, I picked up my devotional for the day where I read this:

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. Psalm 91: 1-4 TPT

That was quite a confirmation and I love it when God gives me those “kisses” from His heart to mine. Later that same day, I was reading an article about breakthrough and how this is a season of breakthrough for God’s people. The article talked of this being the “ninth month”, and the “baby” (aka dream) was being birthed. It was encouraging, but I felt myself getting anxious for the dreams I’ve been waiting to see realized for many years. My earlier feelings of being so loved and having God’s arms around me seemed like a distant memory all of a sudden. As my “when God when” prayers of anxiety were coming out of my mouth, suddenly this nursery rhyme song started playing in my head - “first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage”. “Huh?” I thought. Then I just started laughing. Because I already knew the Lord often speaks to me through songs (remind me to tell you my bluebird story sometime), I knew He was speaking. “Ginny, you must be established in my love first. It’s the foundation for all your dreams and heart’s desires. Our intimacy is to be as a marriage. Once established, you’ll see your dreams realized.”

I want you to understand something. “It’s the process that makes your rich”. This quote from Graham Cooke has helped me through some of the darkest days of my life. The understanding that God always has his arms around you, even on your darkest day, and he is always looking to establish you deeper in his love, gives you a different perspective on the trials you may be facing. There is always an invitation to go deeper in his love. There is always an invitation for deeper intimacy, and it’s in that place of intimacy that you will see your desires fulfilled and your dreams realized. It’s in the place of intimacy that the Lord may give you a new dream; a better dream. He will always do what is best for you because He can’t do anything else. So if you’re waiting for your “baby to be birthed”, I hope this encourages you to look for the treasures in the process of waiting. They’re there, just as surely as His arms are wrapped around you, especially in the darkness.

Much love,