In the quest for love and companionship, navigating the complex terrain of relationships demands both wisdom and discernment. As you embark on this journey, it’s crucial to remember that some questions don’t require divine intervention, and certain situations can be approached with the clarity that comes from understanding God’s principles.
Embracing God’s Order in Relationships
God designed us with intellect, entrusting us with the capacity to think for ourselves. In addition to endowing us with cognitive abilities, He provided guidance through His Word. His principles, clearly outlined in scripture, serve as a road map for our lives, particularly when it comes to relationships and marriage.
Seeking God’s Direction
In the pursuit of a life partner, seeking God’s direction is a common practice. However, there are aspects where God’s guidance is unnecessary because He has already provided answers in His Word. As a single individual preparing for marriage, it’s essential to recognize that not everyone is a suitable match. Some individuals are best avoided, and falling in love with them goes against the wisdom found in God’s teachings.
Avoiding Pitfalls
The Scriptures explicitly caution against falling in love with certain individuals. This isn’t merely a suggestion but a clear directive to protect us from heartache and undesirable consequences.
Identifying the Wrong Person
One key aspect emphasized is avoiding a romantic connection with a God-hater. The message is simple: do not enter into a relationship with someone who rejects God. This principle is reiterated in 2 Corinthians 6:14, emphasizing the incongruity of a partnership between light and darkness.
Deceptive Appearances
It’s crucial to recognize that a God-hater may appear pleasant and even possess material wealth. However, the Scriptures warn that such prosperity can lead to their downfall. Proverbs 1:32 underscores the peril of turning away from simplicity and the destructive nature of fool’s prosperity.
Prioritizing Spiritual Compatibility
Before succumbing to emotions and hormones, it’s imperative to consider the spiritual aspect of a potential partner. The scriptures affirm that genuine love stems from a knowledge of God, and anything professing to be love without this foundation is often mere lust.
Breaking Free from Unhealthy Attachments
For those who may find themselves entangled with someone who doesn’t share their faith, the advice is clear: get out of that love. Proverbs 6:5 urges individuals to deliver themselves from the hands of those who may lead them astray.
Already Married?
If you find yourself already married and sensing that you may have missed the mark in certain aspects, it’s crucial to approach the situation with wisdom and deliberation. In times of uncertainty, seeking counsel becomes a valuable resource, providing clarity and guidance to navigate the complexities of marriage.
Assessing Changes in Marriage
Marriage is a journey marked by growth, change, and challenges. The presence of changes does not necessarily indicate that a mistake has been made. It’s important to resist the temptation to make hasty decisions based on common challenges inherent to all marriages.
The Importance of Counsel
In moments of doubt or when facing marital difficulties, seeking counsel is a prudent course of action. Counsel offers an external perspective, often bringing insights that may not be apparent in the midst of challenges. Taking the time to consult with a trusted advisor can illuminate the path forward.
Avoiding Rash Decisions
Rash decisions made in the heat of challenges can have lasting consequences. Seeking counsel provides a buffer against impulsive actions that may not align with long-term goals for the marriage. A knowledgeable advisor can help you navigate challenges with a level-headed approach.
Understanding Common Marital Challenges
Marriage is a shared journey, and challenges are a natural part of the process. It’s essential to recognize that many couples face similar issues, and seeking counsel doesn’t imply failure but rather a commitment to growth and improvement.
Remember, the journey of marriage is dynamic, and seeking counsel is not a sign of weakness but a proactive measure to ensure a thriving and resilient relationship.
Son 2:3-7 (MSG) As an apricot tree stands out in the forest, my lover stands above the young men in town. All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love.
Well, born again or not, there is a strong desire that comes with falling in love.
If you like, speak in tongues till tomorrow, this desire will not go.
But what can be subdued is lust that often wants to tag along, like Lot tagged along with Abraham.
Yes, the desire will not go, because there is nothing wrong with the desire, it is the fulfillment of the desire at the wrong time that gets us into trouble.
So, all you want when you fall in love is to sit down in each other’s shade, with feelings of wanting to taste and savor the delicious love.
The Strong Desire That Comes With Love
I felt like that. She felt like that. But we waited. You can wait as well.
No matter how intense the desire is, do not taste that love before the wedding.
Tasting love and consummating your love before the wedding is like stealing a lump of hot meat from the pot of stew before it is ready.
Your taste bud gets burnt and you can lose your sense of taste, which ultimately leads to tasting more pot of stew that doesn’t belong to you!
If you have already started doing this as singles, then there is a clarion call this morning to stop and now get yourself onto unnecessary problems that are never part of your destiny!
The Strong Desire That Comes With Love
For married couples, you are licensed to sit in his shade, to keep tasting, relishing, and delighting in each other’s love! What is forbidden here is looking outside for pleasure. You are now married, you can admire others but shouldn’t desire them.
You now need to focus on the one you have married and pleasure one another. To look outside is not only greed and covetousness but also lust, which your maker frowns at! Dear husband, dear wife, FOCUS!
In this devotional, we will explore the secrets to finding and maintaining a lasting love, for both singles and married individuals.
Love is a universal desire, but where and how do you find it, and once you have it, how do you keep it alive? Let’s delve into the keys to a successful and enduring relationship.
1. Finding Your Ideal Partner
Proverbs 19:14 (AMP) tells us that, “House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and prudent wife is from the Lord.”
In essence, a truly wise and prudent partner is a divine gift.
Seeking Divine Guidance
Your journey to finding a life partner begins with building a meaningful relationship with God. To secure a prudent spouse, you must first establish a strong connection with the Divine.
It is only logical that if you desire a wise and understanding partner, you must seek this through your relationship with God.
Choosing Wisely
The Bible suggests that there are both prudent and foolish individuals. The choice you make will have a profound impact on your life.
To ensure you make the right choice, trust in God to guide your path. Remember, your choice of a life partner can either elevate or undermine your happiness.
Married but Unhappy?
If you’re already married and are facing difficulties in your relationship, don’t rush to judgment.
Sometimes, we may perceive our partners differently from their true selves. If you believe your spouse lacks prudence, consider revisiting your connection with God.
Seek His guidance and wisdom to navigate your marriage’s challenges and also seek therapy when necessary
2. Building a Harmonious Home
Proverbs 21:19 (KJV) advises, “It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman.”
This verse underscores the vital role a wife plays in creating a peaceful atmosphere at home.
Creating a Home, Not Just a House
A woman possesses the unique capacity to transform a house into a loving and serene home. It is within her power to set the tone for the entire household, making it a welcoming and pleasant place.
Avoiding Destructive Behavior
When a wife displays contentious, nagging, or angry behaviors, she risks driving her husband away.
Such actions can lead to a strained and unfulfilling relationship, pushing the man to avoid spending time at home.
It is crucial for both partners to create a loving and supportive environment.
The Importance of Understanding
Men often deal with internal struggles and decision-making processes differently from women.
They might choose to remain silent when faced with dilemmas. Instead of pressuring them to speak up, grant them the space and time needed to find a resolution on their own.
Respect his silence as he contemplates his choices.
For singles, addressing anger is crucial. Frequent displays of anger can discourage potential partners.
Men are generally logical and will consider how anger issues may affect their future together. It’s essential to work on anger management and self-improvement.
Seek Wisdom
The book of Ecclesiastes 7:9 (MSG) advises, “Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.”
Anger has the potential to destroy relationships. Remember that anger can hinder the growth of a God-ordained love affair.
In conclusion, the key to finding and keeping the love of your life lies in building a strong relationship with God and fostering a harmonious home environment.
By seeking divine guidance and practicing understanding, you can ensure a long-lasting and joyful partnership.
Addressing anger issues and working on self-improvement are essential for singles looking to embark on a successful relationship journey.
Spirituality should never in any way disturb being a romantic lover, single or married.
This has nothing to do with sexual intimacy.
The synonyms of “romantic” include loving, amorous, passionate, tender, affectionate, lovey-dovey.
Speaking in tongues should not disturb speaking sweet things to your lover.
One is to God, the other is to your lover. After you have done the one for God, do the one for your lover as well.
Let your relationship or marriage be characterized by the expression of love.
Be passionate towards him or her.
Before the wedding, “passionate’ does not include kissing, smooching, and intimacy.
It includes calling regularly, doting on each other, praying for one another, sending loving (not vulgar or perverse) texts to each other (not sexting), buying each other flowers, chocolates, and special gifts, and doing memorable things together.
After the wedding, it includes all of the above and regular, consistent, times of intimacy, as much as you want.
In the Old Testament, honeymoons last as long as one year!
Deu 24:5 (KJV) When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
God wants you to enjoy each other! Obviously, this doesn’t mean to go and stay somewhere without work in today’s world, It simply means to continue in that atmosphere of honeymoon. By the time you do one year, it becomes a lifetime practice.
In the New Testament, God wants you to have a honeymoon for life! Enjoy every day of your married life!
Sadly enough, by the first week of most marriages, it is only the moon they can find, no honey!
That will not be your portion in Jesus’ name!
The Bible clearly advocates that married couples enjoy themselves sexually and otherwise.
Pro 5:18-19 (KJV) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. [19] Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
Are You Lovey-Dovey?
There is nothing wrong with fantasizing about your spouse! It is godly. Take a look at the Message Translation:
Pro 5:18-19 (MSG) Bless your fresh-flowing fountain! Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! [19] Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose— don’t ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted!
Have you done your free registration for this Friday’s seminar? Go ahead and do so, it’s my 51st birthday gift for you! Good morning!