Although I don’t feel singleness is a ‘gift,’ I do know it is a choice that some of us have made. And I am going to share with you my journey to this decision in my life. In order to do so, I must go back into what I had thought was ancient history – at least my ancient history – and long ago forgotten. So let’s take the trip back.
This tale goes back to the early 1980’s, when I was a very rebellious young adult. I was running away from everything that had been taught was right and good – I was running away from GOD! I chose a pathway of destruction. It was a path that led through alcoholism, various drugs – both legal and illegal, and sexual promiscuity. If it ‘felt good’ I did it. And I thought nothing of the consequences. I saw no consequences, so there were none!
But now, as I am looking forward to my 50th birthday this spring, I know there were – there ARE – consequences for all of these choices that we make; some are good, but many, dare I say most, are not!
The consequences of my substance abuse is that I have a liver that has poor functioning if I do not eat the right foods to keep it clean and keep my body as chemicals as possible. This is a tough new pathway I must follow to keep healthy, but I have chosen to walk it so that I can share the lessons I have learned with you.
But the consequence that has brought on my choice to serve God in a life of singleness has to do with news I just learned this week. I learned that because of one of my sexual indiscretions I have a virus that will stay with me the rest of my life and is very contagious. While it is not HIV/AIDS it is still something that weakens the immunity and causes lesions in the very most private parts of a person’s body and is sexually transmitted to others – even if you have no outward signs or symptoms.
I have learned many times over that even one sin can cause an aftereffect that will last a lifetime; and here is that lesson once again.
One encounter with a man to whom I was not married has cause an illness that will be in my body for the rest of my life. And if I were to again marry, could cause that illness to be passed to someone I love very much.
So I took this news into my prayer closet to seek God’s face. There I laid down my desire to have a husband again. I choose, with the strength of Jesus, not to seek a husband to share the rest of my life with; but too build my relationship with the Husband of all widows and the Father of all orphans – Jesus. He reminds us of this in the following passages:
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, what shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. I Kings 4:1-3
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. Psalms 68:4-6
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5
But God is full of Grace! And He spoke these very words to my heart: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
II Corinthians 12:8-10
And again: For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us …
Ephesians 2:14
Then He started singing in my ears the chorus I will quote here: Peace give I to thee, Peace give I to thee. Not as the world gives, give I to thee, Peace give I to thee!
You see God is the HUSBAND to the WIDOW, literally and figuratively. He is my Husband. He is my Light and my Salvation. And MOST importantly, HE IS MY PEACE!
Thank you Jesus!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Servant Of God’s Energy Source
John 4:34-38, NIV; "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages; even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Before I tell you what God told me in this scripture, let me give you the background of what has been happening up to this point. Most of us have heard the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, but here I will recap a bit.
Jesus and His disciples had been traveling from Jerusalem and were now passing through a village of Samaria near Jacob’s well. They were all hungry and tired, so the disciples went into the village to get some food for them. Jesus stayed beside the well to meet with the Samaritan woman. He asked her for water, and then Jesus offered her the true water of life. They sat down and discussed her life. When they were finished she ran into town to gather a crowd to bring back to the well to meet Jesus. Enter the disciples. They are carrying several sacks full of groceries and are trying to encourage Jesus to have some lunch. But He tells them that He has food that they know nothing about. Discussing among themselves, they try to figure out where Jesus has gotten food and who could have brought it to Him. But Jesus replies; ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.’
How very profound that must have seemed to these big burly men who were thinking about the rumbling in their stomachs because they hadn’t eaten in several hours and had just walked many miles. I, too find it profound. To think that Jesus actually found energy to sustain His life from sharing the plan of salvation with a woman who had been shunned from the ‘normal’ society of her day. He got fuel to accomplish His ministry by actually performing His ministry.
I had never seen this verse in this light before, and yet this is clearly what Jesus had told His disciples in this verse. How amazing! And yet He didn’t end His message to His disciples with this, He went on to say; ‘Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages; even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.’
I feel Jesus was trying to encourage His followers to find some form of energy in their labors for the Kingdom of God, too. And not only those present with Him their, but He wants us, His disciples in this present generation, to follow this example, as well! Our greatest driving force, the source of energy for life, should be to serve others and through service to others to serve Him to the best of our ability.
Sunday December 28, 2008 Pastor John used the following scripture in his sermon; ‘Colossians 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.’
He took it slightly out of context and asked us to think of ourselves as the servant, the slave, of Jesus and to obey Him in all things, to do all that we do with singleness of heart; fearing God. Heartily do it unto the Lord. Because of our eternal reward that awaits us when we see Him face to face … but there is more to this than spiritual, future rewards.
Luke 6:38 says; ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.’
I don’t feel this verse is speaking about giving our money, although we should be giving of this, too. I feel this verse is speaking of giving of ourselves, in other words ministry, to others. But it goes on to say that when we give “it” shall be given back to us in the same measure that we have given to others. But it doesn’t say that God will do the giving, it says MEN will. In fact is says the men will it unto to us until it overflows the container they are pouring “it” into.
I would like to take the opportunity this year to look at what I do for Jesus in the same manner that He did when He walked among men. I would like to get to the point that I can actually derive energy from those things I do to lead others into the Kingdom of Heaven or to further them along their way down the heavenly highway! I want to hear Jesus say to me what He said to the servant in the parable in Matt 25:21; ‘His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’
Let’s begin this New Year with a singleness of Heart and Purpose in Jesus – doing all to bring honor and glory to Him . . . . Learning to gain our energy from doing the ministry He has called us to complete.
Before I tell you what God told me in this scripture, let me give you the background of what has been happening up to this point. Most of us have heard the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, but here I will recap a bit.
Jesus and His disciples had been traveling from Jerusalem and were now passing through a village of Samaria near Jacob’s well. They were all hungry and tired, so the disciples went into the village to get some food for them. Jesus stayed beside the well to meet with the Samaritan woman. He asked her for water, and then Jesus offered her the true water of life. They sat down and discussed her life. When they were finished she ran into town to gather a crowd to bring back to the well to meet Jesus. Enter the disciples. They are carrying several sacks full of groceries and are trying to encourage Jesus to have some lunch. But He tells them that He has food that they know nothing about. Discussing among themselves, they try to figure out where Jesus has gotten food and who could have brought it to Him. But Jesus replies; ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.’
How very profound that must have seemed to these big burly men who were thinking about the rumbling in their stomachs because they hadn’t eaten in several hours and had just walked many miles. I, too find it profound. To think that Jesus actually found energy to sustain His life from sharing the plan of salvation with a woman who had been shunned from the ‘normal’ society of her day. He got fuel to accomplish His ministry by actually performing His ministry.
I had never seen this verse in this light before, and yet this is clearly what Jesus had told His disciples in this verse. How amazing! And yet He didn’t end His message to His disciples with this, He went on to say; ‘Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages; even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.’
I feel Jesus was trying to encourage His followers to find some form of energy in their labors for the Kingdom of God, too. And not only those present with Him their, but He wants us, His disciples in this present generation, to follow this example, as well! Our greatest driving force, the source of energy for life, should be to serve others and through service to others to serve Him to the best of our ability.
Sunday December 28, 2008 Pastor John used the following scripture in his sermon; ‘Colossians 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.’
He took it slightly out of context and asked us to think of ourselves as the servant, the slave, of Jesus and to obey Him in all things, to do all that we do with singleness of heart; fearing God. Heartily do it unto the Lord. Because of our eternal reward that awaits us when we see Him face to face … but there is more to this than spiritual, future rewards.
Luke 6:38 says; ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.’
I don’t feel this verse is speaking about giving our money, although we should be giving of this, too. I feel this verse is speaking of giving of ourselves, in other words ministry, to others. But it goes on to say that when we give “it” shall be given back to us in the same measure that we have given to others. But it doesn’t say that God will do the giving, it says MEN will. In fact is says the men will it unto to us until it overflows the container they are pouring “it” into.
I would like to take the opportunity this year to look at what I do for Jesus in the same manner that He did when He walked among men. I would like to get to the point that I can actually derive energy from those things I do to lead others into the Kingdom of Heaven or to further them along their way down the heavenly highway! I want to hear Jesus say to me what He said to the servant in the parable in Matt 25:21; ‘His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’
Let’s begin this New Year with a singleness of Heart and Purpose in Jesus – doing all to bring honor and glory to Him . . . . Learning to gain our energy from doing the ministry He has called us to complete.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A Single Woman's Sounding Board
As a single woman, I find myself feeling alone and wanting to talk with someone quite regularly. I have called family and friends when this need arises, yet there are times when this seems quite inadequate. So I turn my voice heavenward and talk to God. I have been known to talk to him just as I would anyone else that is in the room - for in fact, He is.
During a recent time of loneliness I was sharing my heart with Jesus about my lack of contentment and loneliness without a husband। He spoke to me in the words of a Poem he placed on my heart and in my pen (computer keyboard). I originally called the Poem "Lord, Is It True?" But in the last few days I have re-named it, "A Single Woman Talks to God."** I have included it here so that you see you aren't the only one who feels lost and alone.
A Single Woman Talks To God
Lord, is it true?
That You chose me to walk this single life?
To work out my daily walk with no man
And me, not a wife?
Lord, is it really true?
Lord is it true?
That on You I can depend
That You will be my Husband
Closer than my closest friend
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That I really am Your wife
That You carry will all my pain and strife
If I but lay down my life
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That no matter what befalls
You will answer all my calls
And no harm can prevail
Unless it is Your will
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord is it true
That all things work out for good
And I'm covered, protected, by Your blood
If I follow close to Your side
Forever in Your will to abide
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That You have chosen me; I haven't chosen You
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, Thank You!
~ Leigh ~
This is just one example of how I talk to God। I have been known to yell at Him while playing my radio or stereo real loud to try to cover up my shouts, or to cry my eyes out in a tirade or pity party. God expects us, nay rather, encourages us to share our deep inner feelings with Him ALWAYS. If we leave those feelings bottled up inside of us we will soon be just like a soda bottle that has been shaken - soon those inner feeling will come exploding out of us; and usually on some unsuspecting, and undeserving, person. God knows exactly how we feel in our inner most heart of hearts, but He also knows how to speak to each of us in a way that we can understand and can bring us to a place of release, relief and contentment. I don't know about you, but I am way ready for a place of contentment and relief.
Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5: ‘... be content with such as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ Jesus puts us in our place by telling us that as long as we are HIS children, we are to be CONTENT. He gives no but/if statement or conditions that would give us "permission" to be discontent. So, if we are feeling discontented, we need to ask Him where we are missing the mark; we must not be doing all that He has for us if we are feeling blue, lonely or whatever term you use for your lack of contentment.
Maybe you have completed an assignment for Jesus and now you are feeling like you are missing something. Again you need to talk to Jesus, take time for a debriefing before taking on a new assignment. Remember when the astronauts are brought home from their mission in space, or when a military unit returns from deployment, how they are placed in seclusion for a few days to allow for their Commanders to gather information about their assignment? We as Christians are ‘Soldiers of the Lord' and as such we also need a time to be debriefed by Jesus before we are sent on our next assignment. This time of debriefing is for us to learn what we have done for God in this last assignment and a to learn what this assignment has taught us or what we should have learned through it. If we don't take this time for debriefing, we could become a ‘spiritual burnout.'
A spiritual burnout is not easy as easy to spot as career burnout। She/ he is likely the busiest person in the family/church, running from one assignment to the next with hardly a breath between; and has a hard time saying ‘No' when ever asked to lend a hand, take on a project or task. I know this person; she is me. I am always running from one task or assignment to the next, and usually doing two or more at the same time. Then when I have run amuck for two, three or six months, I end up banging my head against the wall, sometimes literally, wondering what I am supposed to be doing, or crying because I can't do anything right. Yes, I am usually doing all that I can to please the Lord and to grow in the spirit - but without the time between assignments that I need, I defeat the whole growing season I am trying to cultivate in my life and Christian walk.
Psalms 46:10 says; ‘Be still and know that I am God...’ God was telling the children of Israel that no matter what natural disaster or threat of war was lurking right outside the door, they were to stop and see what God was going to do to help them through it. Also Isaiah 40:31 says; ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.’ This verse tells us we need to wait on Jesus and He will strengthen us. This is just what I was talking about, that time of debriefing is waiting before Jesus, calm and expectant, to let Him strengthen you. To allow Him to show you what you have accomplished in the assignment or what you needed to learn from it. But this time of waiting is not a period of doing nothing; it is fraught with action - service and conversation - you giving of your self totally unto Jesus by your actions and in your words.
So how do you wait on the Lord while waiting for the Lord to speak? Spend time in the word and prayer। But not your daily God bless mom, dad and uncle John, or please heal sister Gertrude or Brother George. It is a simple conversation, just as you would your best friend. Quietly wait for Him to speak to you, into your heart and mind - or through His word. All of this can be done while you are going about your normal daily routines.
Wash dishes and sing praises to Jesus. Sweep the floors and pour out your heart to Him while sweeping up the dust bunnies under the fridge. Clean the bath or fold the laundry while you quote scripture verses you have been learning. This is all a part of your service to Him while you wait for Him to speak to you. And He will always speak to you in the manner that gets through to you the best. He speaks to me in songs and poetry when He is building me up. When I am in trouble He uses His correction rod - a [figurative] piece of lumber that is 8"x 8" and about 10' long - but it usually does the job of getting my attention and my eyes back on Jesus and off myself. Then we can start on the communication process all over again and get to the heart of the matter, because I have come to the place where I can listen to His voice once again. So I take the time to really listen to ALL He has to say.
Talking to our Lord is a very valuable time of sharing our feelings, learning new things, finding out how we have grown and getting our new assignments from Jesus. All of these things are very important to each one's growth and development in our walk of Faith. Take time to talk with and to Jesus. Cultivate your conversations with Him in all areas, and He will find more and more times and places to speak with you every day!
During a recent time of loneliness I was sharing my heart with Jesus about my lack of contentment and loneliness without a husband। He spoke to me in the words of a Poem he placed on my heart and in my pen (computer keyboard). I originally called the Poem "Lord, Is It True?" But in the last few days I have re-named it, "A Single Woman Talks to God."** I have included it here so that you see you aren't the only one who feels lost and alone.
A Single Woman Talks To God
Lord, is it true?
That You chose me to walk this single life?
To work out my daily walk with no man
And me, not a wife?
Lord, is it really true?
Lord is it true?
That on You I can depend
That You will be my Husband
Closer than my closest friend
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That I really am Your wife
That You carry will all my pain and strife
If I but lay down my life
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That no matter what befalls
You will answer all my calls
And no harm can prevail
Unless it is Your will
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord is it true
That all things work out for good
And I'm covered, protected, by Your blood
If I follow close to Your side
Forever in Your will to abide
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, is it true?
That You have chosen me; I haven't chosen You
Lord, is it really true?
"Yes!"
Lord, Thank You!
~ Leigh ~
This is just one example of how I talk to God। I have been known to yell at Him while playing my radio or stereo real loud to try to cover up my shouts, or to cry my eyes out in a tirade or pity party. God expects us, nay rather, encourages us to share our deep inner feelings with Him ALWAYS. If we leave those feelings bottled up inside of us we will soon be just like a soda bottle that has been shaken - soon those inner feeling will come exploding out of us; and usually on some unsuspecting, and undeserving, person. God knows exactly how we feel in our inner most heart of hearts, but He also knows how to speak to each of us in a way that we can understand and can bring us to a place of release, relief and contentment. I don't know about you, but I am way ready for a place of contentment and relief.
Jesus says in Hebrews 13:5: ‘... be content with such as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ Jesus puts us in our place by telling us that as long as we are HIS children, we are to be CONTENT. He gives no but/if statement or conditions that would give us "permission" to be discontent. So, if we are feeling discontented, we need to ask Him where we are missing the mark; we must not be doing all that He has for us if we are feeling blue, lonely or whatever term you use for your lack of contentment.
Maybe you have completed an assignment for Jesus and now you are feeling like you are missing something. Again you need to talk to Jesus, take time for a debriefing before taking on a new assignment. Remember when the astronauts are brought home from their mission in space, or when a military unit returns from deployment, how they are placed in seclusion for a few days to allow for their Commanders to gather information about their assignment? We as Christians are ‘Soldiers of the Lord' and as such we also need a time to be debriefed by Jesus before we are sent on our next assignment. This time of debriefing is for us to learn what we have done for God in this last assignment and a to learn what this assignment has taught us or what we should have learned through it. If we don't take this time for debriefing, we could become a ‘spiritual burnout.'
A spiritual burnout is not easy as easy to spot as career burnout। She/ he is likely the busiest person in the family/church, running from one assignment to the next with hardly a breath between; and has a hard time saying ‘No' when ever asked to lend a hand, take on a project or task. I know this person; she is me. I am always running from one task or assignment to the next, and usually doing two or more at the same time. Then when I have run amuck for two, three or six months, I end up banging my head against the wall, sometimes literally, wondering what I am supposed to be doing, or crying because I can't do anything right. Yes, I am usually doing all that I can to please the Lord and to grow in the spirit - but without the time between assignments that I need, I defeat the whole growing season I am trying to cultivate in my life and Christian walk.
Psalms 46:10 says; ‘Be still and know that I am God...’ God was telling the children of Israel that no matter what natural disaster or threat of war was lurking right outside the door, they were to stop and see what God was going to do to help them through it. Also Isaiah 40:31 says; ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.’ This verse tells us we need to wait on Jesus and He will strengthen us. This is just what I was talking about, that time of debriefing is waiting before Jesus, calm and expectant, to let Him strengthen you. To allow Him to show you what you have accomplished in the assignment or what you needed to learn from it. But this time of waiting is not a period of doing nothing; it is fraught with action - service and conversation - you giving of your self totally unto Jesus by your actions and in your words.
So how do you wait on the Lord while waiting for the Lord to speak? Spend time in the word and prayer। But not your daily God bless mom, dad and uncle John, or please heal sister Gertrude or Brother George. It is a simple conversation, just as you would your best friend. Quietly wait for Him to speak to you, into your heart and mind - or through His word. All of this can be done while you are going about your normal daily routines.
Wash dishes and sing praises to Jesus. Sweep the floors and pour out your heart to Him while sweeping up the dust bunnies under the fridge. Clean the bath or fold the laundry while you quote scripture verses you have been learning. This is all a part of your service to Him while you wait for Him to speak to you. And He will always speak to you in the manner that gets through to you the best. He speaks to me in songs and poetry when He is building me up. When I am in trouble He uses His correction rod - a [figurative] piece of lumber that is 8"x 8" and about 10' long - but it usually does the job of getting my attention and my eyes back on Jesus and off myself. Then we can start on the communication process all over again and get to the heart of the matter, because I have come to the place where I can listen to His voice once again. So I take the time to really listen to ALL He has to say.
Talking to our Lord is a very valuable time of sharing our feelings, learning new things, finding out how we have grown and getting our new assignments from Jesus. All of these things are very important to each one's growth and development in our walk of Faith. Take time to talk with and to Jesus. Cultivate your conversations with Him in all areas, and He will find more and more times and places to speak with you every day!
Worth The Wait?
All the time we are hearing that good things come to those who wait. Well, I am an impatient type who is not “into” waiting for those things that I want. And yet God in all His wisdom has chosen for me to wait for some of those “good things” that I want, yes, even desire to have in my life.
I want a home and husband and children to share this home। I want to be able to say with confidence that I have done marriage the right and biblically for once in my life. And yet, these things God has chosen to have me wait for.
I want a home and husband and children to share this home। I want to be able to say with confidence that I have done marriage the right and biblically for once in my life. And yet, these things God has chosen to have me wait for.
I don’t even dream I may know the whys of His choice for my waiting, only that He has asked me to wait. So I wait. Oh yes, there are days I stomp my feet and shake my fist toward heaven, figuratively if not literally. And I spend time crying over this missing desire in my life, but still I wait.
Some days I even ask myself, “WHY!” Why should I wait for the home God wants to give me? Why am I waiting for a husband to just drop out of the sky into my arms? Why don’t I just run out and find an adorable man off the street, “fall in love” and get married. Why indeed. This is pretty much what I have done with every relationship I have had with men, and they have all FAILED miserably. Each relationship was fraught with abuse – mental, sexual and physical – which left me very scarred and working through years of therapy.
By waiting I am allowing God to give me the husband He has chosen; which also allows Him to choose me as the best wife for my future husband.
But the question was is it worth the wait। If I can be the helpmeet designed for the man of His choosing and he the helpmeet designed for me – than yes. Each of us can do this thing called marriage the way God originally planned us to, by the Book so to speak. We can have a Christ centered relationship that will bring glory to Him and make life in this present age as close to heaven as an earthly existence can be.
Why should I, or anyone, choose to wait? Because the ultimate calling we have is to be “an helpmeet” for our husband. A person to stand beside him, and help him with the job he has to accomplish and the ministry he is called to fulfill. To be a “keeper at home” (Titus2:5). To keep the house tidy, the meals cooked and the laundry clean and mended, etc. To be a blessing in any way we can in order to be the completion of our mate and he our completion, too.
I have tried marriage 3 times and a long-term, live-in relationship; none of which was in the least fulfilling in the way the Bible describes in Proverbs 31 or in Titus 2. That biblical life is the life that I desire – literally dream about having! And though I want this relationship desperately, like yesterday would have been great; I wait – not very patiently, mind you – for His perfect timing. I long for my children to rise up and call me blessed and for my husband to sit at the city gates and sing my praises (Proverbs 31:28-29).
Anything less than His perfect choice of a mate, at His perfect time, would obviously be a less than perfect mate for me and would most likely end as every other relationship I have ever had - very badly। So why put myself through the same old misery all over again????
I would definitely say though I hate waiting, when the wait is over it will most definitely have been well worth it!
In the meantime; “Lord, help me to keep my focus on You and not the desires of my heart – no matter how pure they may seem. You are the center of my life. To please You alone should be my one true desire. All else is secondary and should not be as important to me as bringing glory to Your name and a smile to Your face.”
I LOVE YOU JESUS!!!!!
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”
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