By Angie Koenig
Chocolate by Stu Spivack vi via Flikr. CC BY-SA 2.0
Like many young girls, I had issues as a kid accepting that I was made beautiful and called beloved by our Creator. I hid from God’s truth and my choices paid the price. Then, as a young women I received the best advice I have ever gotten. My sister-in-law told me that I needed to fall in love with Jesus, head over heels in love. As a single 21 year-old wondering why I was the only one of my sisters husbandless, this seemed crazy to me. I had never been wildly in love with anyone, let alone Jesus. I mean I loved Jesus, but how was I supposed to fall in love with Him, and what did that even mean? Jesus as that type of man was not how I viewed Him; he was my friend, not my love interest.
Even though it seemed crazy to me, I knew I needed to do something. I had spent many years completely numb to human emotion, and I was willing to try anything. So I figured if I was going to fall in love with Jesus, I would start dating Him. Once I came to this conclusion, I felt Jesus ask me to date Him by going to daily Mass. Jesus asked, I said yes, and that became the start of a love story I could never have imagined.
Every day that week at Mass I could feel Jesus talking directly to me. Every reading addressed something I had been struggling with, and not just struggling with that day or even that month, struggles that had burdened me my entire life. They were revelations that left me crying at Mass each day. Now, most people would tell you to stay away from boys who make you cry, but when the water works are brought to you by the Holy Spirit, there is passion and love in every tear. Jesus was wooing me like I had never been wooed and I fell in love with Him – head over heels, butterflies in the stomach, shakes you to the core kinda love. Years of feeling inadequate and unwanted were washed away. Jesus revealed to me that the walls I had put up around myself to protect me from hurt and pain were doing the opposite, they were pushing everyone away. By not allowing the people around me to love me, I was not allowing Jesus to love me, and He desperately desired to do so.
Jesus thirsts for us, for you and for me. He wants an intimate relationship with each and everyone one of us. Dating Jesus will look different for every single one of us because Jesus loves us individually. I challenge you to talk to Jesus, in a way that may seem strange at first, and tell Him you want to date Him; He will reveal to you how He intends to do so. Jesus is the ultimate gentleman, allow Him to woo you and be prepared for fireworks.
About the Author:
Angie Koenig is a passionate follower of Jesus working her way through life as a Millennial. She is the youngest of nine children and embraces her role as a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Her faith journey has had many unexpected turns and she has recently embraced her calling as a writer to witness to God’s mercy and unfailing love. Angie currently resides in Eau Claire, WI where she enjoys anything that involves coffee.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story!
Glad you liked it Mary!
Beautiful!
Thank you Joanne!
Wonderful piece, Angie! Thank you. It’s difficult to explain that “falling in love” isn’t always a sexual thing, and you did a great job.
Thank you Marge, you are exactly right, when we think of Jesus as our “lover” it is an intimate relationship but not in the sense that it is sexual. I think that is a facet of God that not a lot of people are exposed to, for me, finding it out made all the difference.
Yes. Jesus is not only lover but spouse. The spousal relationship with Jesus not only transforms lives but also marriages. My favorite book for lovers of Jesus is the Song of Songs! Well written Angie and thank you for your beautiful testimony.
Yes, the Song of Songs – I never realized that it was a love story until recently, I also haven’t read that whole book of the Bible but I need to. I think some reading might be my next “date night.”
Angie, thank you for these beautiful, tender words. They reach right into the heart of the reader.
The Holy Spirit was guiding me the whole way, I’m glad that they touched your heart!
Excellent and obviously heart-felt. Thank you for these words.
Thank you Shannon!
Such a great post. Thanks so much Angie for being so open and honest. So glad you have joined us in the vineyard. I have a feeling many women will be blessed by your words for years to come!
Thank you Kelly! I am absolutely humbled that God led me to this amazing ministry. I’m over the moon to know that He is guiding my words and using them for His glory!
Dear Angie, I just read your beautiful story and have been very blessed by your words. Four years ago my husband passed to glory and I have not had a desire to marry again. Not long ago I got this insane idea that I would like to fall in love again, this idea didn’t make sense to me as I didn’t want to be with another man. Until I read your story I didn’t understand what I now know, the Lord wants me to fall in love with Him. Thank you so much for sharing and opening my eyes and heart to falling in love again.
Shirley, thank you for sharing you beautiful testimony. I am absolutely humbled that God used me as the vessel to deliver a love letter to you from His Son. I pray that your love story with Jesus provides the love and companionship your heart is seeking. I’d like to think your husband is up there giving Jesus tips on how to woo you 🙂 the two loves of your life taking care of you together, a beautiful vision!