Before
There once was a girl,
A girl whom this world
Quite simply was not worthy of;
She focused her sight
On all that was right,
And lived for God's glory and love.
In all of her land
There was not found a man
Who was worthy to make her his own;
So on she persisted,
And though she resisted,
She grew weary of being alone.
As she went through her days
With a heavenward gaze,
She longed for a man who could see
That Christ was her treasure,
And His glory her pleasure,
To this her mate must bow the knee.
With standards so high,
Though many would try,
There was nowhere a suitable mate;
But there was no compromise
In those beautiful eyes,
And so for God's plan she would wait.
One night in a dream,
For a moment it seemed,
That maybe one day I would be
The man who could love
This heavenly dove,
But then I woke up and could see
It was only a dream,
For how could I deem
Myself worthy to make her my wife?
But I heeded it not
That it was my lot
To let her walk out of my life.
So I got on my knees
And I asked the Lord, "Please,
If it be your will to erase
The miles between,
However the means,
Until we are face to face."
After
Another day to trust what God
Has promised us despite his rod;
The rod which often makes me weep
And takes away my precious sleep
As I cry out "Is this my lot?
To lose the only one I've sought?"
'Tis then I'm met with a rebuke
And my foundations firmly shook
By the one who purchased me
And I'm reminded of the knee
That bowed, but not on my accord;
'Twas Christ, my Savior and my Lord
Who sought me from the mouth of hell
And did convince me not to dwell
On worldly lust and vanity,
For only men who cannot see
Seek glory in these things, but not
The ones whom Christ already bought
On Calvary so long ago
So that forever they should know
The riches of their Father's love,
First here on earth and then above,
For all eternity to sing
The praises of our God and King.
And then the words I could not place,
"Sufficient for you is my grace"
Are etched upon my strengthened heart
As more of faith he does impart.
But still I ask "How can it be
That I could come so far to see
The one I love be swept away
When all along I heard you say
'She is the one I've saved for you
To create one flesh out of two.'?
Was I mistaken as I dreamed
Of what so clear to me it seemed
Was your mysterious answer to
My longing prayers for someone who
Would love your glory just like me
And for your glory come to be
My partner in this holy quest
To live for you? I never guessed
That one like her could walk the earth
And daily seek to make your worth
The driving motive of her heart.
Without her I'd be torn apart!"
And then another word to fix
My lack of faith from Matthew six:
"Seek first my kingdom and my glory,
On that page I'll write your story.
Don't seek to know what time reveals,
The day will come for opened seals;
But focus now on that which I
Have promised if you just rely
On all that I've seen fit for you
To know until your journey's through.
It could be that you'll have your wife
To love and cherish all your life.
Remember that the ways of man
Are far below my simplest plan.
But if for reasons you know not
I take away the one you've sought,
Don't despair, for I will never
Hide my face from you forever.
If you don't get your desire
It's to set your longings higher,
But if ______ is your mate,
It's to make you contemplate
That all good things are from above,
Faith, hope, and especially love."
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