No need to make a fuss, this is IT!

I was reading the book of Luke recently and in the 2nd Chapter, it describes the birth of Jesus. Now what impressed me was the fact that even though it had been revealed to Mary and Joseph that their baby was the promised Messiah, in addition to all the amazing signs that followed, 8 days after He was born, he was circumcised and named. Also, after the days of Mary's purification, according to the Law of Moses, just like every other child, the boy Jesus was presented in the temple.

This was the One whose birth was revealed by an angelic visitation to both parents, whose conception was by the power of the Holy Spirit, whose status as Messiah had already been confirmed in many ways, by different witnesses to His parents, yet His parents deemed it fit for him to go through the 'process' of life at that stage of his life... His whole life in terms of his development stage was just like every normal child.

He didn't wake up an adult, he didn't start prophesying the moment he came out of his mother's womb (that would have been a tad scary! lol), he didn't spend 3 months in the womb and then become born, he didn't grow teeth from the womb nor was he baptised before birth!

                                 Nah ah! Lol  - Pic Source                                             

Now my point in stating the above is that it struck me that this was the Messiah! If anyone had the grace to 'bypass' some 'processes' in life, he had all the justification, and ability to do so! But no, just like you and me, he went through the process.

The BIG lesson for me as I read was that it is important to 'go through the process'...

I related what I read in Luke to relationships (figures, right? lol). You know, sometimes we meet that person that we 'click' with so well... or probably even see a vision, have a dream or have a clear idea that this is clearly the one for and we jump right in, bypassing a few things here and there because we 'know' that this is IT.

The 'process' could include actually getting to know this person well, asking questions, gauging reactions to different things, working out how you work out differences and handle conflicts or celebrations. Discussing dreams and aspirations and checking that they align, and where they do not, prayerfully considering where compromise needs to come in.

The process could also include allowing yourself to be properly 'courted'.. No 'rush rush' something like that (borrowing the words of Princess the Comedian lol). Going out on dates where possible and having very necessary conversations or just generally being with the person, to understand both spoken and unspoken modes of communication.

Some brothers have 'fallen my hand' a number of times when I hear stories of them 'receiving' for a sister (that is when the Lord has revealed to them that you are his wife) and expecting that from then on, 'sharp sharp', things just have to follow quick quick.. No wonder they say that 'brothers' could be the most unromantic of men lol.. How about having the privilege of that wonderful information (because it's a real privilege when God does reveal things to you), and then 'wooing' her properly. Pray brother pray, but in addition to that, buy her flowers, ask her out to dinner, think of creative ways to go the extra mile - after all, faith without works is dead right?

Also, sometimes, when the waiting period has been quite a while, it is great to meet someone wonderful and want to progress things fast, but it is also important to ensure that we are not carried away by the headiness of love and the experience of waiting for a while that we forget to get to know the person properly too. One of my favourite Preachers on relationships Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of blessed memory once used the analogy of a woman who experiences some delay in having children, she said even if she takes in at the age of 45 or so, would God say ok because I see that time has really passed, don't bother about 9months, in 3months have the baby! No, infact you would be very worried if it happened that way.

I guess I just wanted to remind you that yes you may have received the perfect confirmation, waited quite long, wanted it so bad, but don't be afraid of, or forget to go through the process. Don't bypass certain things or excuse certain things because of that.

Race to the altar? lol Pic Source

You deserve that time of courtship, you deserve the romance too (no matter how brief), most importantly, you deserve to get information. You would never know everything about the person you intend to marry during courtship but I dare say that it would probably make you better prepared for the significant journey ahead. xx