A Lily Among the Thorns..

"Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens" Song of Solomon 2:2

As I sit and think of how to start this post, I am bombarded by thoughts of a friend I know who is going through a pretty rough time right now. She isn't the first girl that has questioned why she ever gave her heart away to someone she thought truly would cherish it. Have you ever felt that way? I know I have.

The world has taught us, that in this culture, to find true love, its through the giving of ones heart. To settle for less than God's best and pursue many relationships to find, "The One". We live in a world that has and continues to destroy everything that is princesslike and feminine within our being. Girls are bombarded by movies, music, and magazines that tear our dreams of someone to cherish, love, and admire the princess that we see in ourselves. Girls are realizing that the ones that are easy, laid back, and don't care much about their purity, the ones that put themselves out there for any guy to grab, get the attention that we all long for. So we begin to compromise. And before we know it, we get exactly what those girls get, a hollow, one dimensional life. But is it really worth it?

I have felt that way. I've come to that cross road so many times in my life. Feeling pulled into the direction that the girls in my youth group were going. I saw the results that the girls got. I wanted that. Praise the Lord, I had a discerning spirit, and choose the higher road. It was never, ever an easy thing to do. To choose to be a lily white princess for my King, and my future husband, than to follow the crowd around me.

Where are you at in life? Have you felt as if you have compromised who you are for the shallow, and hollow life of the girls in your life. Throwing your heart to guys who will never appreciate it to begin with? If so, you aren't alone.

Leslie Ludy puts it so well in her book, Authentic Beauty:

"My childhood longing to be loved and cherished by a tender knight that I could follow to the ends of the earth was placed in my heart by Him. Jesus Christ alone can fulfill that desperate longing."

So many of us think we know Christ. I mean, really know Him. We mention Him in conversation, we visit Him in church, we read the bible every once in a while to get to know Him better, and maybe even declare that He is number 1 in our life. But there is a huge difference between saying you know Jesus Christ and actually experiencing Him as YOUR true Prince.

I challenge you to stop looking at the world's version of love, and acceptance. And tune your ears to the sound of your Prince, beckoning you near to Him. Listen to His sweet whisper. Feel His heart beat. And there you will find love, acceptance and everything more and beautiful.

We are all on this set-apart road, running to our Prince. Never give up, and never look back at the past mistakes you have made. Allow the Spirit of the Lord to heal you of past hurt, and disappointment. Look into His loving eyes and let Him be your Prince, your Knight in shining armor. You will NEVER regret it.

I'm praying for you, my friend, my sister.