When I was a child, I had a “best friend.” All of my other classmates knew that she was my best friend not just by the fact that our names rhymed (my name is Carissa, her name was Larissa), but because we were always together – on the playground, in the classroom, even outside of school. And we got along famously, too. It didn’t matter if we were running around outside in the woods or doing our stinky homework together – we were always having a ball.
As I grew older, we grew apart, like many relationships do. Since then, I’ve been in search for a friendship like that. I’ve been searching for a buddy who “gets me,” someone I don’t have to be anyone but “me” around. I don’t have to explain my weirdness or hide my oddball nature.
Maybe you’re like me. You’re still searching for a relationship, whether romantic or not. One where the other person just “gets you.” Do you know that God “gets you?” You don’t need to hide your true self from Him; He created you to be just the way you are. So when you’re talking to Him and spending time with Him, you can just be yourself. He is your oldest, most true friend. He knew you before you were even born! Jeremiah 1:5
“Jesus loves you.” A common phrase, probably one we’ve heard a thousand times. So with any solid relationship, affection is a two-way street. I’ve always been told, “Carissa, YOU choose your friends.” So I ask you: Have you chosen God? Do you love Him as He loves you?
Because you are created in the image of God, your desire to be romanced is the same as our Father’s. He desires our love and attention. “He wants to pour His love into your heart and He longs to have you pour yours into His. He wants your deep heart, that centerplace within that is the truest YOU. He is not interested in intimacy with the woman you think you are supposed to be. He wants intimacy with the real YOU” (page 121).
Our authors point out that we were made to worship. I’m not talking about singing hymns or praise songs in church every Sunday or while you’re driving in your car. I’m speaking about worship as “what we give our hearts away to in return for a promise of Life” (page 123). That “Life” our authors reference—I believe that’s the part of our hearts that was created to be filled by only One Being: Jesus. It’s unable to be filled with anything else; not money, not success, not a man, not a family, not anything else that this world can offer. Only Jesus can give you the Life and the Love you need so desperately. So I ask you: Have you let Him in? Have you given Him your love that He so desires? Do you know your true Father—the One who loves you just the way you are?
I love the lesson about Mary versus Martha in Luke 10. “[Mary] dropped everything and sat at His feet, fixing the gaze of her eyes and the gaze of her heart upon Him.”
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:8
I pray you fix your eyes on Who is unseen right now, but Who we will soon see one glorious day in Heaven—our Father and ultimate Lover, Jesus Christ.
Praise Him!
Carissa
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Let’s Pray:
Father in Heaven, I thank You for Your unconditional and unsurpassed love. I pray that You become our focus, that each day we start by fixing our eyes on You. You alone can fill the missing relationship in our lives. You alone can give us the love and attention we crave. I pray that we can better show You how much we love and adore You, too. In Your Precious Name, Amen.
Your Assignment:
What have you given your heart to? What are you worshipping daily? What is distracting you? Make a list. Share it here with us, in the comment section, if you wish.
Jesus is the only One worthy of our heart’s devotion. Mary recognized who Jesus was—the Source of all Life. Love Incarnate. She did what you and I hope we, too, would have done. She dropped everything and sat at His feet, fixing the gaze of her eyes and the gaze of her heart upon Him.
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If you would like to contact Carissa in regards to this blog post, please email her at: Carissa@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com
About Carissa Markantone
, beautiful post!! I love the whole God wants to love on the real you, not the woman we are trying to be. He is the only One that accepts us for exactly who we are. Just wanted to pop over and love on you a bit!!! you have a beautiful way of writing dear friend!