The dance is most joyful when there is chemistry between the partners.  Chemistry is as hard to define as color or music.  It seems that dance partners either have it or they don’t.  I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t come automatically.  It has to be earned.  It takes time to have chemistry.  It happens when you’ve had enough relationship to understand your partner’s motivations.  You have been through some hard times together.  Chemistry must be connected to respect, trust, understanding, admiration, if not love.  These are the elements that when combined produce the reaction of chemistry. 

If you are going to dance with Jesus, you need to set aside some time to know Him.  Fortunately, God’s written a book and He is the central character throughout it.  There is some study that is necessary to have chemistry.  The power of God’s book is so much more than historical words about a Man.  It’s a book that breathes.  It is alive.  Just when you think you are reading history, you sense that it is His story.  And as you begin to focus on Him, you sense that His Spirit is right there with you.  Through His Spirit, God “amens” His own story and convinces us of its truth.

This creates a longing in us to not only read the Bible, but to worship its author; to sing to Him and pray to Him.  Chemistry comes when our reading combines with singing and praying.  They twirl around in an innocent beauty and we find ourselves in the embrace of One who is altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful.

The greatest source of joy in the dance comes from the delight that is in Christ’s eyes.  It is usually long after we come to terms with God’s love for us that we actually believe that He likes us.  At times I have thought that I have twisted God’s arm to get Him to love me.  I did what He said I had to do in repentance, and now He has to love me.  That is so far from reality.  Look at Sandra D. Wilson’s words in her book:  Into Abba’s Arms.

“There’s gloriously good news for all of us hole-in-the-soul Christians who yearn for greater closeness to God.  God wants us close to Him even more than we want to be close to Him!  How do I know?  Because he plants a part of Himself, the Holy Spirit, in each of His beloved children.  God’s Spirit acts, in part, like a homing device, sometimes beeping softly, other times shrieking deafeningly in our hearts to direct us back to where we belong—in God’s eternal embrace.”

If you are having trouble finding joy in your dance with Jesus, look into His eyes.  It’s right there.  He delights in you.

So dance with child-like innocence.

Continue the chemistry experiment.

Feel His delight in you.