Every woman yearns for romance and yet romance seems unattainable. In fact, the longing for such often causes women to feel foolish and ashamed. Looking around at our modern world there is little evidence of romance. In place of romantic living are busyness, temporary entertainment, and materialism. The word “romance” is now merely a movie genre for fictional stories.
When we limit romance to a time of wooing another into affection, it loses its appeal. In this instance, romance is just a tool – a means to an end. The world has romance all wrong. Kinkade, however, has perfectly identified it.
Jesus Christ is romantic. He is romancing me today. To my right, outside my window, I see a sky filled with fluffy, dense clouds. There is a little blue peeking through and a pair of birds just floated out of my view. The sun is ducking in and out of these clouds, teasing me. When the sun ducks behind the clouds, the sky becomes my favorite shade of grey. This puts rain on my mind and thus, romances my heart! My Savior really knows how to captivate me and fill me with peace and joy!
Whether or not we have a significant other, our lives can still be utterly romantic. Romance is a lifestyle.
What do we choose to open our senses to? Do we thank God for the aromatic scents He allows us to smell, the delicious foods He allows us to taste, the enchanting colors and sights He allows us to see, the welcoming textures and comforts He allows us to feel, and the sweet sounds He allows us to hear?
What do we choose to focus on? Our own problems, victories, and agendas or on His provision, His victories, and His agenda?
Who do we choose to serve and for what purpose? Ourselves for our own benefit, others for our own benefit, or others with no expectation of anything in return?
In Christ, we receive a romantic life to cherish and to share with others. Allowing Him to romance our hearts pours out through our lives. Selfish priorities are replaced with more significant purposes. “Me time” in front of the computer or television is replaced with time spent reflecting, listening to, and pouring out to Jesus. Trivial conversations are replaced with edifying conversations. Draining daily errands are replaced with joyful acts of service. Fears are replaced with hope. Worries are replaced with thanksgiving. Christ’s romance overtakes and transforms our lives. The most beautiful part is that there is nothing we can do to earn it. All we must do is accept it as a gift.
Personally, I have been amazed to discover that the most trying times of my life have been the most romantic. Facing death, failure, rejection, and uncertainty have spurred me toward Christ and in response He has opened up my heart to His love! As a result, I have been filled with His life in exchange for mine. My once dull, empty life has been replaced with His vibrant, beautiful, abundant life! His life is a life of romance! He sees the filth and heartache in every person and selflessly offers His loving power to completely clean and heal. A life surrendered to Him- a life that has received His cleansing and healing- has the amazing opportunity to be used by Him to help clean, heal, and love the least!
Removing meaningless distractions from our lives makes us available for His purposes. Ugliness, chaos, and corruption surround us. Nevertheless, Christ within us and living through us overpowers our surroundings and shines innocent beauty in the dark ugliness of this world!
A life of romance is not fictional. Desiring it is not naïve. A life of romance is a choice. A life of romance is a gift, Jesus is the Giver, and we are the recipients. Before you choose to accept this splendid gift from Him, beware of the stakes: It will not erase pain and suffering, it will just make pain and suffering a blessing. It will not make life easy, but it will make life worthwhile. Most importantly, it is not for selfish gain but for His glory and the benefit of others. I challenge you, valued reader, to daily exchange your life for Jesus Christ’s. When you do, you will no longer simply esteem romance but live it every moment of every day! Why settle for any other kind of life?
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10 (NASB)
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” – John 14:27 (NASB)
“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple.” – Psalm 27:4 (NASB)
Sanctified and Surrendered by Caitlin Marie Stacy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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