“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine…”
Song of Songs 1v2

I was doing a study on Song of Songs. “Let Him love you,” the speaker said. The phrase stuck with me. “Let Him…”
But how do I actually do that?

I had been a Christian forever. I knew God loved me. I had felt His love…deeply.
But as this phrase circled my mind and passed over my lips, I knew there was more, but I also realised I didn’t really know how. Not if you asked me to put it into action.

Sometimes, I would just sit for ages in the sunshine, just soaking in his presence — allowing that “Spring Growth” to take place. Sometimes I would dive into the Scriptures. Sometimes I would write in my journal.
Still, I felt there was more.

Then, as I was gardening again, that’s when it came to me.

It’s all about intentionality.

You see, I had been given some new seedlings for my birthday. The trouble was, I had nowhere to plant them. My vegetable beds were full. The rocket and radish were running wild, and I wanted to harvest the radish seeds. The broccoli was almost ready, but the carrots were still baby-baby. The lettuce and chives were doing nicely, and the batch of new radishes was finally beginning to show.

To make room for the new, something had to go…

Away went the weeds, and I could see then what I room I actually had for planting. The rocket was tall and scraggly. That was an easy choice. It went. The radish was trickier, as I wanted to harvest the seeds but the bush was really big and stealing all the light. I pulled off a few lesser branches and all the leaves. It was now (slightly) smaller and the sunlight could get past to the other plants. (The rest will go soon once the seeds have dropped.) The carrots were doing beautifully, but I couldn’t wait for them to mature. Plus, there were so many I could afford to sacrifice a few. Still, I cringed a little as I pulled the tiny-little-eat-in-one-bite-babies up. I think that’s when it hit me.

To “Let Him love me” is to let Him do the same in my life.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15v1-2

As I said in my last blog, growth can be scruffy.
Pruning and planting can be scruffy too.
Will you “let Him” …?

Will you let Him pull out the old growth, to make room for the new?
…Even if it’s still being fruitful.
Will you let Him dig deeper in the soil than your little seedling reaches to make it easy for the roots to go down?
…Even if the soil is hard and the breaking hurts.
Will you let Him add compost and fertiliser to add nutrients to your life?
…Even if it gets a little stinky. (I think that is what they call discipline.)
Will you let him plant only one or two seedlings so they have room to grow?
…Even if it means leaving some in the punnet.
Will you let Him choose what (or who) He plants around you for maximum growth and protection*?
…Even if it means staying your lane when others are on a different path.

To “let Him love me” is to let Him love me in every part of my life.

In the winter bare dirt.
In the spring scruffy growth.
In the summer fruitfulness.
…and the autumn pruning.

Song of Songs is the most beautiful, passionate love story between the Bridegroom and His bride: a picture of us and Jesus.

He invites her into His love…she turns away, afraid…she begins to trust and search for Him…she gets hurt by those who should have been protecting her…He calls to her again…she says yes… He showers her with love and affection…

“Let Him…” it begins.
Yet, in her every season, He still calls her lovely.

…And I can “let Him” call me lovely in every season too.

Will you…?

“Awake, north wind,
and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,
that its fragrance may spread everywhere.
Let my beloved come into his garden
and taste its choice fruits.”
Song of Songs 4v16

*Yes, plants actually grow better when planted with other specific plants, and certain plants actually protects others from pests! How cool!