Intoxicated With The Bridegroom

So kind are your caresses, I drink them in like the sweetest wine. Song of Solomon 1:2a

Here, the Shulamite experiences the effect of her Bridegroom’s kindness on her life and being. It is through their closeness, or rather the access that she permits him to have to her soul, that makes it possible.

Meaning of ‘kind’ [adjective]

having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others: wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others; something does not cause harm, is not harsh or unpleasant

If you have ever had an experience where someone was NOT kind to you, then you know how harmful it can be emotionally, mentally, and even physically. We have all had to “drink in” the unpleasantness of another person’s harsh treatment, abuse, or disrespect.

What’s worse is when we “drink” the accusations of the devil by giving him access to our minds. He will inevitably affect our emotions and subsequently our behavior. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. You can never rise above the level of your thought. In other words, thinking is drinking. The Bible says we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Spiritual warfare is denying the enemy access by resisting him. We are to submit to God and resist the enemy, and he will flee. Don’t drink what the enemy is serving. Send him packing.

On the contrary, we are to give the Bridegroom, Jesus, access to our lives by reading His word, meditating on it, and worshiping Him. This is how we grant Him access to our being. It is how we get close enough to have a real encounter with God. This is what takes us past the form of mere religion and into a close, personal, and intimate relationship with the Spirit of the Lord. When we receive God’s word into our spirit, soul, and body, we are essentially “drinking” His kindness, goodness, and love.

Give Yourself a Break

We can take a cue from Ephesians, where it says the Lord has lavished His love upon us by treating us with kindness, love, and patience. Teachings on the importance of your relationship with yourself are often overlooked and missing entirely in Christian circles. When you are harsh, unforgiving, and critical of yourself, you are doing the enemy’s bidding. Why do his dirty work for him and inflict damage on your own soul?

Drinking of the Spirit

To drink of the spirit, you must get quiet before God. You must block out the noise of the world, other people, and your own overactive thoughts. Typically, people drink wine when they want to relax, unwind, and release the cares of the day. We too can escape the cares of this world and enter into the rest that God provides.

The Fruit of the Spirit