The Happy Bride...

What a bridegroom He is. What a lover He is. What a God!

This is the greatest love story ever told… the ultimate proposal story… the highest/greatest bride price ever paid… the cross… the blood that was shed!!! The shed blood is of much more value than diamonds and gold.

God proved His love once and for all by giving us Jesus to die for us, to redeem us from our sins, and not to condemn us in our wrong. Through the cross (His death, burial and resurrection) He paid the highest price to make us His spotless bride. His blood ran red and made us white as snow. Made us the righteous ones in Him… gave us a title deed “the blessed ones”. In this price that was paid, in my acceptance of His proposal, I become one with Him… coming with nothing but filth, and He came with EVERYTHING, and covering my nothing with his everything. His perfection swallowed my imperfection. I now carry His name as His bride; I drop my old name and all that comes with it… I am a new creation in Christ… Glory!

 

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:16-17(MSG)

The cross answers all questions. Clears all doubt about His love. Some brides have a tiny bit and sometimes even an enormous pile of doubt as they exchange vows… but by the cross, that sacrifice, He silenced my doubt… how can I ever doubt He loves me? He silenced the voice of my debtors… He paid an over price, He gave me His name… the voice of sin and shame has no hold over me. They have no right to hold me down in bondage. I am no longer a slave to their whims.

As His bride, I am well taken care of… blood has been shed, the price has been paid… all things are mine and working for my good.

Because the price has been paid, I resist anything contrary to what this perfect sacrifice has done. What a price he paid. He made an open show of the devil. He made a place for me in him at the Fathers right hand, where I sit and make my enemies my footstool; everything that is made to cause me pain has been made a footstool, placed under my foot. I have the power to overcome every day that turns dark, to rise above every storm that tries to destroy my sail, and cause my walk on water to turn into a struggle to keep from drowning, every fire that lies to me and threatens my assurance that I am the beloved of God and I have the victory. The game of life has been fixed for the precious bride, for me… I am more than a conqueror in Christ… I always win.

Spoiler alert… my bridegroom is the master of the universe, and He has changed the game… so no matter how it goes, even if I receive a punch or two, even if I fall down a couple of times… I always win. That’s what keeps me going because given up is not taken advantage of all that I have.

The signet ring of the Holy Spirit He’s given me has given me power and boldness to step out as His bride. His name has opened the doors for me to places I was shut out of before.

My bridegroom rejoices over me with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)…  

Knowing such a love and being constantly reminded by the signet ring of His Spirit and name, that sacrifice on the cross helps me to resist discouragement, fear, depression, self-condemnation, weariness, shame, lack… Oh they come my way, sometimes close enough to throw some slaps at me, but I always rise above the moments and conquer them, put them where they belong, under my feet.

The Cross equals love… and I’m proud to be called His bride, to bear His name, to bask in His love and 'slay' in the robes of His righteousness.

I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. Isaiah 61:10(MSG)

 

(I love it how my Easter outfit by StylebyCecil Inspired this post...)