“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17
I’m excited! Really excited! Next week my hubby of forty-three and a half years is taking me away to a country retreat! We will pull back from our regular duties and commitments and take a couple of days to slow down, get refreshed, and connect more deeply with each other.
For a number of years now we have planned times like this and found them very nurturing for our relationship. We love the long walks and talking, holding hands and connecting. Evaluating, planning, and strategizing sometimes come into play, but often we just relax and enjoy being together. And always we pray … about anything and everything.
We’ve discovered that a big thing that kindles our romance is kindling our “romance” with our God. When we draw together to Him, He knits our hearts more and more with each other as well. When Dave prays, I learn about his heart- what he is thankful for, what is bothering him, what burdens he may be carrying, what impassions him, and what promises he is holding onto. Prayer reveals our hearts!
Over the years, our prayers have become more authentic, vulnerable, and open as we have come to embrace the fact that we are simply broken people whom God is tending and mending. We are learning to be “naked and not ashamed” as we talk with our Father, and THAT is uniting!
Women, whether praying alone or with others, we all have a blessed opportunity to “get-away” and open our hearts with all their burdens, joys, and sorrows to our Lord, knowing that His is a throne of grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16). It may not be a literal get-away to the country… rather, maybe just a walk around your block or retreating to a quiet corner of your home, but He will be there to meet you wherever you are – ready to listen and tenderly gather your requests, hear your sighs, and graciously lift your burdened hearts, share your joys, and rejoice over you with singing. His heart is big, and His arms are strong, and His grace is abundant! Let him romance you in a get-away – He will be eagerly watching and waiting for you!