
It's been awhile since I have written a blog, but I have missed you blog family! There have been some serious changes in my life since the last time I published a blog! I look forward to catching you up on the challenges of being single and entering a new relationship! Today I want to share with you an excerpt I read earlier from my book Jewel In The Rough. I'm not sure where everyone is at in this single journey, but I pray this will bless those that are trying to make the right decision concerning who to pursue a relationship with.
Now is the time to choose wisely before entering a marriage. If we are all honest with ourselves, we received red flags prior to entering relationships that didn't work out in the past. As much as we may want to have companionship, we must be honest with ourselves and ask some hard questions like are we equally yoked or do we have what it takes to survive in a marriage. No one is perfect and it will take a lot of love, prayer and grace to build a strong relationship/marriage. We must pray that God will reveal what relationships to fight for and what relationships to walk away from.
Many blessings to you all as we embark on this journey of finding true love and happiness. By the way, please feel free to share with us any relationship updates or maybe some of the challenges you have faced while transitioning from being a single to being in a relationship. It's not an easy transition and you never know who may be experiencing the same issues. I hope you enjoy today's post!
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."
1 Samuel 13:14
How many times have you asked God for a mate, only to receive an answer you didn’t want to hear? I think about Israel when they asked for a king because they wanted to be like other nations. God wanted to be their king, but they insisted on having what everyone else had. They didn’t realize that their God was the King of kings. However, God spoke to His people through Samuel and said, I will give you what you ask for, but first let me warn you about how he will treat you and your children. Even after hearing how bad things would become, they still wanted a king.
Sound familiar? Many times, God warns us before we ever hook up with that person about how they will treat us and how bad the relationship will be. But because we want what we want, when we want it, we end up with much more than we bargained for. God told his people that, in the end, they will cry out because of the king whom they have chosen for themselves, and he will not hear them. I can remember doing the exact same thing after the end of a relationship with a man I chose that God warned me about.
When the Israelites chose their king they based it on appearances. He looked strong, he looked handsome. You see where we’re going with this? How many times have you dated someone based on how they appeared? You know, they seemed to have a relationship with the Lord, but then you find out that was only the case for a couple of hours on Sunday. They seemed to be loving, that is, until they start drinking. All the signs were there, but you were just so tired of being the only one without a mate.
At times being single may seem like cruel and unusual punishment to say the least, but God knows what He’s doing. He is such a loving father that he tries his best to spare us from heartache and pain, but we have to trust him. The wonderful thing about God is he is so merciful. Even when we are stubborn and disobedient, He has a back up plan.
In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel tells the king his kingdom will not continue, the Lord has found someone else to rule, and he is a man after His own heart. That is wonderful news for us! Even though we made some mistakes and the relationship didn’t work out, God has someone else that is a man after His own heart! You have to be willing to wait on it though. We must also let go of the past and stop trying to resurrect the dead!
Know that when the time comes for you to have a mate, God will do the choosing. In 1 Samuel 16:1, God told Samuel to stop mourning for the old king because it was time for him to anoint the new king. Sound familiar? Out with the old and in with the new.
The new king that was chosen was the most unlikely candidate. He was a behind-the-scenes kind of man. While everyone else was up at the house, he was in the field keeping the sheep. They didn’t even think enough of him to invite him to the gathering, but he became the chosen one. Isn’t that just like God! He always exalts those who have been faithful in due season. You see God doesn’t look at a person’s appearance or physical stature, but at the heart.
Now, I know some of you are already thinking will God put me with someone I’m not attracted to? I believe if you allow God to choose, you will not only be spiritually attracted to the person, but you will also be physically attracted to them! David, the new king, not only had a heart for God, but he was also described as being good looking.
So, it pays to wait on God. No matter how long you have to wait know it is for your good. Remember to delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret because of him who prospers in his way (Psalm 37:7). In other words, don’t get upset because of those that are taking matters into their own hands and seem to have what you want. Any way that is made without God will not prosper! Be encouraged because those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:10b).
Now is the time to choose wisely before entering a marriage. If we are all honest with ourselves, we received red flags prior to entering relationships that didn't work out in the past. As much as we may want to have companionship, we must be honest with ourselves and ask some hard questions like are we equally yoked or do we have what it takes to survive in a marriage. No one is perfect and it will take a lot of love, prayer and grace to build a strong relationship/marriage. We must pray that God will reveal what relationships to fight for and what relationships to walk away from.
Many blessings to you all as we embark on this journey of finding true love and happiness. By the way, please feel free to share with us any relationship updates or maybe some of the challenges you have faced while transitioning from being a single to being in a relationship. It's not an easy transition and you never know who may be experiencing the same issues. I hope you enjoy today's post!
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."
1 Samuel 13:14
How many times have you asked God for a mate, only to receive an answer you didn’t want to hear? I think about Israel when they asked for a king because they wanted to be like other nations. God wanted to be their king, but they insisted on having what everyone else had. They didn’t realize that their God was the King of kings. However, God spoke to His people through Samuel and said, I will give you what you ask for, but first let me warn you about how he will treat you and your children. Even after hearing how bad things would become, they still wanted a king.
Sound familiar? Many times, God warns us before we ever hook up with that person about how they will treat us and how bad the relationship will be. But because we want what we want, when we want it, we end up with much more than we bargained for. God told his people that, in the end, they will cry out because of the king whom they have chosen for themselves, and he will not hear them. I can remember doing the exact same thing after the end of a relationship with a man I chose that God warned me about.
When the Israelites chose their king they based it on appearances. He looked strong, he looked handsome. You see where we’re going with this? How many times have you dated someone based on how they appeared? You know, they seemed to have a relationship with the Lord, but then you find out that was only the case for a couple of hours on Sunday. They seemed to be loving, that is, until they start drinking. All the signs were there, but you were just so tired of being the only one without a mate.
At times being single may seem like cruel and unusual punishment to say the least, but God knows what He’s doing. He is such a loving father that he tries his best to spare us from heartache and pain, but we have to trust him. The wonderful thing about God is he is so merciful. Even when we are stubborn and disobedient, He has a back up plan.
In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel tells the king his kingdom will not continue, the Lord has found someone else to rule, and he is a man after His own heart. That is wonderful news for us! Even though we made some mistakes and the relationship didn’t work out, God has someone else that is a man after His own heart! You have to be willing to wait on it though. We must also let go of the past and stop trying to resurrect the dead!
Know that when the time comes for you to have a mate, God will do the choosing. In 1 Samuel 16:1, God told Samuel to stop mourning for the old king because it was time for him to anoint the new king. Sound familiar? Out with the old and in with the new.
The new king that was chosen was the most unlikely candidate. He was a behind-the-scenes kind of man. While everyone else was up at the house, he was in the field keeping the sheep. They didn’t even think enough of him to invite him to the gathering, but he became the chosen one. Isn’t that just like God! He always exalts those who have been faithful in due season. You see God doesn’t look at a person’s appearance or physical stature, but at the heart.
Now, I know some of you are already thinking will God put me with someone I’m not attracted to? I believe if you allow God to choose, you will not only be spiritually attracted to the person, but you will also be physically attracted to them! David, the new king, not only had a heart for God, but he was also described as being good looking.
So, it pays to wait on God. No matter how long you have to wait know it is for your good. Remember to delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret because of him who prospers in his way (Psalm 37:7). In other words, don’t get upset because of those that are taking matters into their own hands and seem to have what you want. Any way that is made without God will not prosper! Be encouraged because those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:10b).