As I sit on my porch, with the last of Winter’s wind whipping around me, chilling my shoulders, it almost looks like a war with the contrasts that I see in the landscape. But we know who wins—Spring has arrived, and renewal will come.

Spring pushes back Winter’s dread, making its arrival known. With her entrance, I hear the birds—hundreds of them—singing in the trees. Crocus flowers push through the grass, with an array of purple petals amidst long, white-striped forest green leaves. Yellow daffodils poke their heads above the mulch where the deer stroll, scenting the air with a peppery-floral bouquet. The grass awakes, its lime-green protrusions amidst the thatch dotting the landscape.

A natural spring that has been frozen all Winter, has begun to trickle again. It gurgles across the grass and clay, etching a zig-zag into the earth. A bumblebee sips from the rock it wets.

The first hummingbird makes his appearance, flashing his jeweled color array.

My koi awake from their Winter’s sleep, looking for morsels from my hand. A dove lands on the edge of the pond with his mate in tow. Together, they bob their heads in a delightful display of affection.

Yes, Spring has arrived, and renewal is here. There is no stopping her. She is here.

“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land…Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!”

~Song of Solomon 2:10-12, 13b NKJV

A scene in Song of Solomon records this renewal as well, but it is not just a seasonal renewal—it is the renewal of you, Love, and I, as our Beloved appears on the scene. Our Bridegroom invites us to come away with Him, assuring us that no matter if we still feel the Winter winds nipping at our joy, He has overcome. Winter is “over and gone,” totally defeated, and as we choose to rise into our Bridegroom’s arms of love, He kisses us with divine peace.

“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”

~Song of Solomon 2:14 NKJV

Our Bridegroom, and we, His Bride, are as the turtledove pair, and this divine romance is enticing. Will we come away? Will we answer His beckoning call?

Spring has arrived. Renewal is here.

The Bridegroom invites us to come away with Him, assuring us that no matter if we still feel the Winter winds nipping at our joy, He has overcome.

~Diane Virginia, author of The Kiss of Peace: A Contemporary Exploration into Song of Solomon

Spring has arrived. Our renewal is here.

“Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like the gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.”

~Song of Solomon 2:17 NKJV

We whisper our fears to Him. The shadowy lies that have plagued us dissipate in the light of our Bridegroom’s love. He dances upon the mountain as a youthful stag or a stotting gazelle, preparing our victory, and keeping us safe.

Spring has arrived. He is here. Yes, our Bridegroom is here….

Have you answered the call of your Bridegroom?

My Beloved Bridegroom Jesus Christ, thank You for calling me to come away with you and pray. Thank You for renewing me as I answer. Help me to prioritize these spiritual renewals with You. Thank You for renewal.

Your Bride,

Love

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2021: Renewal of the Bride: Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved

Meet Our Contributor

DIANE VIRGINIA

Diane Virginia (Cunio) is an award-winning author, and the founder/ director of VineWords: Devotions and More. She is an ordained minister, holding credentials since 2005.She has been a member of Word Weavers since 2019.

Diane’s book, The Kiss of Peace: A Contemporary Exploration into Song of Solomon (Mount Zion Ridge Press),won The Sparrow Award, Second Runner Up, at the Asheville Christian Writer’s Conference 2019.  The sequel, Behind the Veil: Becoming the Ascended Bride of Song of Solomon, is in the works.

She has developed the model for motion-activated musical prayer centers for use in the garden retreat, themed to the places where the Bride of Christ travels to in the allegory, Song of Solomon. She envisions these prayer gardens to serve as refuges for seekers and believers alike where they can tarry, worship, and find or deepen their relationships with Jesus Christ.

Diane is a co-editor, co-compiler, and contributing author to Love-Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships (VineWords Publishing).

Diane is published at Answers2Prayer, Christian Broadcasting Network, Christian Devotions Ministries, Faith Beyond Fear, Inspire a Fire, Pentecostal Publishing House, PresbyCan Daily Devotional, The Secret Place, VineWords: Devotions and More, and other ministries.

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