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How Not to Be a Runaway Bride

How Not to Be a Runaway Bride ― Part 4

Cold feet. It can happen to the best of us. The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action”.

It’s usually associated with a major decision, for example, bungee jumping, public-speaking, getting married. For months, you’re excited as you prepare and focus on the positives of your goal, but as the occasion draws near, your nerves get the better of you.

In the 1999 American movie, The Runaway Bride, Maggie Carpenter, nervous of being married, has left three men waiting for her at the altar. Her fourth wedding is planned and everyone is anxious.

The label “Runaway Bride” gained international notoriety in 2005, when a real-life American woman disappeared days before her wedding, triggering a national manhunt. She emerged three days later and admitted to faking her kidnapping to get out of the wedding.

Turn in your running shoes

The underlying issues in most instances of cold feet are fear, mistrust and insecurity.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are the Church, and He has chosen us to be His bride (Eph 5:25-27). We need fear nothing!

Know that in Jesus, you can have confidence in the perfectness of His love and promises.

When Jesus died for our sins, His gift of salvation included a blessed life now and eternal life with God. If you accept Him as your Saviour, you are “born again”, meaning your spirit is now one with God’s, His spiritual DNA, grace, power and glory.

Therefore, turn in your running shoes, bask confidently in His unconditional love, and look fearlessly to the day He comes for you, His bride.

You prepare by:

  1. Making your heart an altar to Jesus (The Royal Wedding)
  2. Serving in His Kingdom (Say Yes to the Robe)
  3. Awaiting your change of address (Your New Home)

Preparation #4: Don’t jilt Jesus

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:7).

Having completed Preparation 1-3, show-up for your wedding!

On your big day, walk down the spiritual aisle fully prepared and in your completeness, where your “self” is surrendered and your entire being glorifies your Groom, Jesus Christ.

You have the rest of your life to get to know Him more and prepare for your wedding. With your heart as an Altar to Jesus, you have communion with Him as Bridegroom and bride, Father and child, King of kings and Lord of lords.

It’s a covenant relationship, in which all that He owns is yours and all that you are is His.

What a beautiful exchange.

Have you had or been on the receiving end of cold feet? How has the experience made you stronger? Share and help others. Email chayil@patfrancis.org with your story.