My lover spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come …” — Song of Songs 2:10-12
As the temperatures outside approach triple digits, it’s quite obvious we are heading fast and furiously into Summer. At least that’s what the temperature says on the outside.
But it’s Springtime in my heart.
It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a cold, dark–and long–Winter. There are cold, dark days still. But it doesn’t matter. I know the season has changed. I know it in my knower. I know it in my spirit. I know it in my heart.
Even when the weakness of darker days threaten to drag me back to the fog of winter, I can still see clearly. I can still see hope. I can still see light.
I can still see life.
Because the season has changed.
Spring is an interesting season. Spring is the time of romance. But Spring is also “the time when kings go off to war” (2 Samuel 11:1). Never have I felt the reality of that dichotomy more keenly.
With all of my heart, I believe there is great grace in this season to fall in love–all over again–with the Lover of our souls. There is an invitation to “come away”–an invitation to draw nearer, to go deeper, to seek him with greater fervency and abandon than ever before. There is an invitation to come and lean fully upon the One who restores our weary, weak souls. But from that place of intimacy and rest there is another invitation …
An invitation to go to war.
There has been increased activity in unseen realms swirling about in recent months. On many fronts, there has been all out war. It is time to arise. It is time to awaken. It’s time to shake off the groggyness of Winter and head back to the frontlines.
But this time it will be different.
This time, rather than “soldiers” going off to war–he is sending kings off to war. Rather than merely servants, he is sending confidantes, friends, and lovers. The King of kings himself has ordained and sent us as “kings and priests.” Those who know their royal identity. Those sent with his authority …
Those sent with his heart.
It is hot outside. Many are feeling the heat. Things on the outside look bleak, dry, and even dead. But there is an oasis of Springtime waiting in the garden of our souls. Spring is the time to arise. Spring is the time to awaken to our royal identity. Spring is the time to awaken to Love.
And Spring is the time when kings to go to war.
Cindy Powell 