Falling in love all over again

My heart is caught by Him, utterly captivated by His beauty, awestruck at the love that He shows me, humbled by His grace, enthralled by who He is, delighted with the intimate ways He showed Himself to me this week, enchanted by all the little things He did to make me smile, and...

Once again I'm wildly in love with Him. A love so great, so wonderful, so terrible, it almost takes my breath at times.

And this is an answer to prayer.

Last February I wrote:
"Although I’m tempted to say I no longer know who God is, the truth of the matter is that I no longer know who I am. I’ve been too busy doing, and have forgotten how to be. I’ve been too busy serving, and have forgotten how to know. At which point I am forced to ask just who it is I have been serving. Myself, perhaps. Because I’m quite certain He once said that His yoke was easy and His burden light. And mine certainly hasn’t been. I’ve nearly forgotten what happiness feels like, what helpless laughter is, what childlike enchantment is, how a peaceful heart feels.

The point is that I’m desperate to recover what I’ve lost. The far-off dream of knowing I’m loved regardless of my actions, knowing contentment regardless of my circumstances, knowing peace though my day is hectic. The utter relief of knowing Him. Really knowing Him. And in being known.

I wonder if that is even possible to find once again."

I'm overwhelmed. Just remembering how dark life has felt at times during the past year, and to think that He listened to the cry, the longing, and to suddenly realize that He longed for me, too.

What utter relief it is to be in His arms. To step inside that circle, and realize that nothing, no one, can touch me when I'm hidden in Him. To know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am loved. Completely.

This is what it means to be held. This is what it means to know I'm forgiven. This is what it means to be loved. This is what it means to be at peace. This is what it means to be captivated by Someone. This is what it means to be falling in love all over again.

Draw me close to you, never let me go
I lay it all down again to hear you say that I'm your friend
You are my desire, no one else will do
Nothing else can take the place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way, bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near

It had been so very long since I'd really felt Him. I knew with my head that He was there. I knew with my head that He was still good. But I couldn't feel Him. What a lovely thing it is to be back where I belong.

You are the love of my life
You are the hope that I cling to
You mean more than this world to me
I wouldn't trade You for silver or gold
I wouldn't trade You for riches untold
You are
You are my everything