Here’s a little “take away” from this past Saturday night (May 30th, 2009): Jesus is inviting us to come out of our self-created refuge and run with Him on the mountains of our guilt, shame, addictions, personality flaws, and entangling sins.  Those things that are hindering our love for Jesus aren’t what is actually hindering our love. Huh? Yeah.  Our fear of being with Jesus in spite of those things is more of an obstacle than those things themselves.

That fear, which is really shame and guilt, brings to light the real issue: a lack of knowledge.  But, I’ll address that in another article, soon.

Our dear friend and prayer pioneer, Katie Howell, was leading us in prayer through Isaiah 64.  I was about to paste some of it in here, but wow, the whole thing is so powerful and relevant to this topic.  So I encourage you to open your Bible and dig into it (or check it out here: http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Isa&c=64&v=1&t=NKJV#top).  Anyway, as she was praying through it, and we began to sing these very Scriptures, the Lord tied “the mountains” mentioned in verses 1 & 3 to the mountains of the Song of Songs chapters 2, 4 & 5.  Jesus, our Bridgegroom, leaps and skips upon the very things that hinder and scare us. He even invites us to come and dance on them with Him.  But, just like the shulamite, our fear (chapter 2) and our immaturity (chapter 5) keep us from running with Him in victory over the obstacles that are hindering our love.

Just like in Isaiah 64, however, the Lord is wanting to shake those mountains.  He desires to burn-up and consume every thing that hinders our love.  Yes, just like in verses 4-9, the Lord does expect us to do our part, to try and desire, to live righteous - pleasing before Him, but He understands (v.6) that our own contrived righteousness is still just “filthy rags”, and ultimately, it is our dependence on Him and what He did on the cross, and our attempts at “running after and with Him” that will allow us to be purified by Him, and bring us into that right place of relationship with Him - in victory over the mountains (the obstacles) that kept us “in our room”, shut-off from the type of relationship with Him that He desires.

Don’t hesitate when He comes to draw you into a place of deeper love with Him - despite your flaws. Sometimes, when we do finally decide to respond, He’s right there waiting for us (Song, chapter 2&3), but sometimes, it’s going to make things a lot more painful (Song, chapter 5).

“Draw me after you, and let us run together.  Though I am dark, you say I am lovely.  I will rejoice in You, and be glad!  More than anything else that competes for my affections and brings me comfort and joy, I will remember You and the true love that only You can give!”  (Song 1 & Hosea 2)