We started this amazing topic yesterday and we will be concluding this morning.
To know and experience God you need to be still. There is a level of stillness required to be able to relate and know God for who He is.
When you are still, you most likely can trust more. Especially if it is stillness in your mind and body too. When we make haste and are in a hurry, we are not still. We make mistakes.
In a state of stillness, God can perform His glorious works in our lives.
God had to put Adam to sleep when He was to make Eve.
Is 30:5a ‘In quietness and confidence lies your strength’
We exchange our weakness for His strength when we are quiet and still, trusting in God.
Dear SIngles, learn to be still. There is an intentional quietness to know Him. Quietness and stillness that come from a place of brokenness. A place and state of total and absolute surrendering to God’s will.
The partner is not yet around. Yes, it is NOT YET. He or she that will come, will come. Enjoy yourself, relax, get to know God more, and put your mind at rest. God is in control. Be still and know that God is God.
Let’s search the scriptures. In Isaiah 46:10 ‘ Be still and know that I am God.
All married couples, listen. You cannot afford to have sleepless nights over some issues. Avoid that temptation. God is never in competition with man. The Bible says He never sleeps nor slumbers. If God is awake then you are protected
You know God on your knees and in worship. It is when you are still that you can see the wonders of the Lord. He will always take charge and be in control of every situation we commit into his hands.
Place your husbands, wives, children, parents, and in-laws into His hands and leave them there.
Don’t worry about that situation that is causing you sleepless nights.
Be still today.
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One of the hardest things to do as a Single or married is to be still. Especially in this fast-paced life.
It seems we just got to do ‘something’. Unfortunately, this ‘ something’ is not always the right, good, or best option. We always think and take issues into our own hands. Unfortunately, we don’t get too far.
I think every single and married person should take time to read the whole of Psalm 46. It is such a beautiful portion of the scripture that offers comfort in whatever situation we find ourselves in.
The Psalm opens by telling us in verse I
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble Ps 46:1KJV
Psalms 46:1 NLT God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalms 46:1 HCSB God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
God is described as a refuge and strength.
God is both a hiding place of refuge from the storms of life and the strength to carry us through whatever the situation is.
As singles, what is the situation you are in or facing? Is it a delay beyond your understanding? Is it a heartbreak? Is it confusion about making a decision? Is the future so bleak you feel so unsure? Is it a failed engagement with no explanations?
Whatever the situation is, God through the writer of this Psalm is introducing Himself as refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
He is your refuge and strength. That strength could be in the form of wisdom
Remember the Psalm says in another translation, that He is always ready to help in times of trouble.
The question is are you ready to receive His help? His help is not automatic.
The police services are ready to help, but until you call or dial 911, you can’t enjoy their help.
As married couples, what is that trouble? Health, financial, Emotional, a cheating spouse, a spouse you just don’t understand?
You have to receive Him as strength and refuge. You can’t enjoy peace amid crisis until you learn to trust and call upon Him for help.
I learned something once a situation is in court, you rest about it. You allow the court to decide, if not you could be charged with contempt of court
Once you have called upon Jesus, leave it with Him. Let Him handle it.
What most of us do is, we think we are trusting and making Him our refuge and strength, and then we start worrying and trying to handle things in our wisdom and strength.
God’s strength, method, and ways will be different from ours.
Trust Him and leave the matter with Him.
God bless. We will continue tomorrow by God’s Grace
Ask every couple, things get busier after the wedding!
Dear singles, you will never have “free” time like you do now as a single! Enjoy it while it lasts!
Instead of rushing into marriage, fasting, and praying for a wedding, relax and calm down, and serve God with all your energy now!
The reality remains, that nobody can marry your own! Let there be a million weddings daily, nobody can marry your spouse!
Let go of the pressures, because pressures take away all the pleasures. Moreover, pressures don’t get prayers answered quickly, if anything, it brings delays.
Pressures make you lower your standards, become vulnerable, and entertain nonsense!
Take a look at the scripture.
1Co 7:32-35 (GNB) I would like you to be free from worry. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord’s work, because he is trying to please the Lord. [33] But a married man concerns himself with worldly matters, because he wants to please his wife; [34] and so he is pulled in two directions. An unmarried woman or a virgin concerns herself with the Lord’s work, because she wants to be dedicated both in body and spirit; but a married woman concerns herself with worldly matters, because she wants to please her husband. [35] I am saying this because I want to help you. I am not trying to put restrictions on you. Instead, I want you to do what is right and proper, and to give yourselves completely to the Lord’s service without any reservation.
Did you see that? The single time affords you to serve God more because there are fewer worries about taking care of your spouse and eventually your children!
Before you enter that phase, enjoy this one you are in. Serve God with all your strength.
For couples, this should never be an excuse to not serve God. God won’t understand that it’s because you are married that you ignore Him and His will.
My dear and most especially, God’s dearest, I bring you a word from the Lord this morning!
Single or married, this word is for you! Please pay attention to the words and take heed of them.
Let’s dive into it!
Psa 95:8-11 (MSG) “Don’t turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising, As on the day of the Wilderness Test, [9] when your ancestors turned and put me to the test. [10] For forty years they watched me at work among them, as over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked—oh, was I provoked! ‘Can’t they keep their minds on God for five minutes? Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?’ [11] Exasperated, I exploded, ‘They’ll never get where they’re headed, never be able to sit down and rest.’
Many people, rather than cooperate with God, are putting God to the test, trying His patience and provoking Him with their carelessness and insensitivity!
Thank God He is a merciful God, full of loving kindness and tender mercies!
That is our saving grace!
However, we cannot continue to test His patience and behave like stubborn little kids!
God wants you to keep your mind on Him!
Regarding every decision you make, who to marry, loving the one you have married, staying faithful, avoiding bickering and strife, and so on, God wants you to keep your mind on Him! When your mind is on Him, you will behave!
The punishment for the Israelites in the above text is non-arrival! Their dreams were never fulfilled! They worked tirelessly and struggled with nothing to show at the end of the day! They wandered and meandered and yet never reached their destination!
These will not be our portion!
The scripture made it clear these things were written to serve as our examples! We must not repeat the same mistakes!
Dear singles and couples, decide to cooperate with your maker! Decide to listen to His word and His Instructions. Decide to live for Him and you will find all things working together for your good!
God the Present Help in your Relationship and Marriage
God’s word is powerful enough to be trusted. The word from His mouth will never go back to Him void but will accomplish what it says it would.
If you are a child of God, take refuge in His word and promises.
Whatever the issue or challenge is with your relationship trust God. He is the very present help in times of trouble. You will testify to His faithfulness. ( So far as the perfect will of God is known)
Maybe you are having issues with parental consent. Maybe it is the finances for the wedding that is the issue. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding that has been lingering for long. Maybe it’s peer pressure or listening to the wrong advice.
I want to encourage you this morning. Take hold of God’s word.
If you can have it in the word, you can have it in your world.
That marriage will not end in separation or divorce. The dry bones of that marriage will rise again. Finances will flow again. You will enjoy marital bliss once again. Or if you do not know what it is to enjoy bliss, God’s word will manufacture it.
Isaiah 41:18 GNT I will make rivers flow among barren hills and springs of water run in the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the dry land into flowing springs.
God’s word promises restoration. God promises to make rivers flow among barren hills. He will turn the desert into pools of water and dry lands flowing springs.
What a wonderful promise to hold on to.
Whatever looks like dryness in your relationship and marriage, in your finances, or business, God promises to turn it around.
The issues you face in your relationship and marriage are not meant to break you. They are there to make you stronger.
Jesus told Peter, when thou art converted strengthen your brothers.
Whatever you are dealing with right now is only for an appointed time. Its season will soon come to pass. Then you will be furnished to strengthen your brethren.
Fight the good fight of faith. After it all, we are still standing.
God’s word is a sure foundation to stand upon.
Don’t give up, believe His word and it will happen for you in your relationship and marriage.
