This weekend I’ll be spending 36 hours kid-free with my Mister exploring our town and just hanging out with each other. I’m thrilled at the chance to do this. We’ve not done an away trip since last Christmas. Way too long – but so much has happened since then. While we absolutely adore our two littles, we know there is much value in getting significant alone time with each other – more than the occasional date night (which I love too).
For our relationship, we thrive when we have quality time together. With his new job and our season of life, this is not always possible. So, we value those free evenings and don’t try to fill our lives with too much “other” stuff. But, we know that we need to communicate well for our marriage to thrive.
He is my husband after all. We’ve now spent three years being married, and 8 months before that getting to know each other, building that relationship, building trust, building intimacy, having arguments and figuring out how to bounce back, seeking forgiveness and seeing what new way we can apply the gospel to our marriage. He is most definitely my best friend. If I have any news to tell – he is the first one. There is no one I would rather travel with. I so miss him when he’s gone or I’m gone.
That is how I’m beginning to realize that God is with us. Yes, I’ve been a Christian for 32 years now. Wow – that’s a long time – but oh, sanctification is a continual process and Jesus keeps getting sweeter.
I’ve read some Scriptures today that talk mostly about suffering – and we’ve definitely had our share of that in our marriage – but to me, the personal pronouns stood out to me. And lately, those little grammar wonders have been leaping off the page at me in my reading of the Word.
*God Himself will be with us as our God (Revelation 21)
*The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3)
*That I may know the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3)
*The Spirit Himself intercedes for us (Romans 8)
*His ears are open to our prayers (1 Peter 3)
*That he might bring us to God (1 Peter 3)
Do you hear the personal relationship that is intended and required for the Gospel? We can’t be second-hand Christians. WE have to cultivate a personal relationship with the God who created everything. And you know what – He makes that possible. He sent Jesus. He gave us the Holy Spirit. He will be forever with us – so we can forever know and worship Him. He’s not going to send His assistant. He himself will be our God!
And that my friends, is good news.