Stirred Affections

“Therefore I am now going to allure her;
    I will lead her into the wilderness
    and speak tenderly to her." -- Hosea 2:14

There is a fight for my affections.
I feel it... constantly.

School, work, tv, books, billboards, and magazines
People. So many people.
All of them inconspicuously begging and pleading to be worshiped;
praised, adored, and glorified.
They promise happiness and satisfaction.
Seeking my devotion
and I am so easily seduced
falling victim of empty promises

I can feel my footsteps wander away
and my eyes distracted
to temporary gratifications that fade
while my appetency grows
the more I consume the larger the void
a black hole consuming my life
I run and I run
until my soul feels parched
and my heart feels dry
the dead end of this road has me spinning

Oh Baal, you leave me aching.

“In that day,” declares the Lord,
    “you will call me ‘my husband’;
    you will no longer call me ‘my master.[d]’
I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
    no longer will their names be invoked." -- Hosea 2:16-17

But I hear my creator call
Pursuing me through the desert, and the wasteland
Searching for me
Stretching, straining, reaching

Hopeless I scream
"Come quick!"

And He finds me
coaxing my heart out of its dark and dusty corners
gently rubbing salve on its self-inflicted wounds
swooping me up and embracing me
He isn't angry

From bondage he breaks me
And He takes me

"Bow and sword and battle
    I will abolish from the land,
    so that all may lie down in safety.
 I will betroth you to me forever;
    I will betroth you in[e] righteousness and justice,
    in[f] love and compassion.
 I will betroth you in[g] faithfulness,
    and you will acknowledge the Lord." -- Hosea 2:18-20

His name like water on my lips
Restoring life to these dead bones
With ease
Next to Him I feel whole

He loves this unfaithful soul

"You are mine"
He whispers to this broken identity

"I will plant her for myself in the land;
    I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.[i]’
I will say to those called ‘Not my people,[j]’ ‘You are my people’;
    and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” -- Hosea 2:23

Joyfully betrothed to my loving groom
my affections no longer misplaced
This bride knows what to do
to the man who was her saving grace

Eyes of adoration follow his every move
melting in to his majesty and splendor
with nothing to lose and everything to gain
giving Him all in a sweet surrender

Consuming, unquenchable love
Time stops when our eyes meet
Just a touch makes me weak

Thoughts racing I can't sleep
With joy I radiate and overflow
Your grace far too overwhelming
Though wicked and mangled
You envelop me

Undeserving
You changed me
Disaffected
You made me

Praise spills from my mouth
and gratitude fills my lungs

Sweet Jesus,
I am yours
and you are mine