Marriage
In Part 1 (here) and Part 2 (here) of the Preparing For Marriage series, God showed me the reasons for my past dysfunctional choices, places I needed healing, my great worth to Him, and that my one day husband should also see my worth to Him and value me just the same. Working on my issues and receiving healing, with His help, were and still are important parts of my preparation for marriage.
While I wait, I submit completely to being putty is His hands. I want God to mold and shape me, first into the person He wants me to be – the one who fulfills His purpose and calling on the earth as His child and as my son’s mother, and second into the one day wife He wants me to be to my one day wonderful husband.
So Part 1 and 2 were about some of the many wonderful things God has done for me, but God also wants to have a relationship with me. It’s not just about being a recipient of all His goodness. God wants me to enjoy His presence almost as much as He enjoys mine – I say almost because I know I’m not capable of God-sized love and emotions.
As a follower of Jesus, I don’t believe I can truly prepare for marriage unless I am following Him full-time. I can’t act like one of His followers only when I am around other believers, I must invite Him into every area and decision of my life, including who to marry. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in ALL you do, and He WILL show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6)” – This is a promise, and “He’s not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19).” God’s not going to leave me lost in space. I can fearlessly throw myself at His mercy and submit to His will in every situation and decision, and He has to make sure I go the right way because He said He would.
I follow Jesus wholeheartedly, not perfectly. But for me, it’s about allowing Him to lead and staying on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14) with Him. I don’t want to repeat past mistakes and make one of those HUGE life-altering choices that will lead me into some pit that may take years to get out of, bringing my son down with me.
I have a dear friend whom I’ve known since I became a Christ follower, and though she loves Jesus, I have watched her make the same mistake repeatedly – she keeps marrying men she doesn’t know very well and who are not walking with the Lord, and it has left a few of her children fatherless, exposed to abuse, and she has suffered much anguish from her choices. God is a God of many chances, and He does allow us to start fresh when we return to Him, but most often not without leaving a trail of pain and suffering. Healing can come, but it takes time.
I want my All-knowing God’s input and direction in all I do. He promises to lead those who follow Him:
- I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you. ~ Psalm 32:8 (I allow Him).
- Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. ~ Psalm 119:105 (Because He loves me, He says not to fornicate, not to shack up, so that’s a wrong path for me).
- Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ~ Isaiah 30:21 (If I’m ignoring Him. If I’m quenching His Spirit by constantly pushing away His promptings and doing the opposite of His Word and will, I won’t be able to hear His voice. Because we have free will, He let’s me choose).
- “I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life.” ~ John 8:12
If I’m not following Him full-time, then I don’t have the benefits of the promises He offers me.
Lord, I pray that You hold onto to me, and anyone praying this prayer, tightly in this very dark world and that You keep my/our hearts soft towards You and Your Word. Let it take root in our hearts that the promises in Your word about showing us the way to go are more than true, but we must do our part which is to follow You. Lord, I pray that I/we never stray from the shelter of Your wings and from loving Your will. I thank You that we can know the way we should go even in this very loud world where everything is trying to compete with Your voice. I love You, Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
I believe there are at least a couple more posts for this series – I think the next one will involve some of the essential character traits of a godly man.
Blessings,
Daphne
http://www.hopespringsup.com/2014/06/15/follow-jesus-full-time-preparing-marriage-part-3/
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