Romans 12:12, Luke 21:19)
Being single and patient. I realize that many of my Devotionals deal with husbands and wives, parents and children. I also realize that many of you are not married at the present time. In our society, you are almost looked down on if you are not married or involved in a relationship with someone. Many people feel like something is wrong with them if they are single. Being single is OK!!!
Let me say that again. BEING SINGLE IS OK!!! Whether you are single because of a divorce, your spouse has died, or you have never married, IT IS OK. The point I want to share with you today is to be patient. I can assure you, 99% of the relationship problems I deal with each and every day can be traced back to people who were impatient. Good people who jumped into relationships outside of God's timing and ended up paying a big price. I realize that loneliness will cause you to make poor decisions, but you have got to understand the consequences of those decisions.
The number one problem in relationships is that there is no spiritual base. While money, communication, and other issues are the most popular reasons for problems, I assure you the lack of a spiritual base in the relationship is the reason these other problems exist. Not having a secure spiritual base is why God said to not be unequally yoked. He knew without that base, the relationship could never survive. The base starts with the personal walk each person has with the Lord. It is solidified by both people bringing their faith together as one.
The Bible talks of the man being the spiritual head of his home. It is important for a man to take this job seriously, and be the priest in his home. It is his responsibility to help merge his faith and that of his potential wife. Praying together. Reading the Word together. Serving the Lord together. These are all ways for two people to lay a solid and secure spiritual base. Let me tell you this. WITHOUT A SPIRITUAL BASE, NO RELATIONSHIP WILL LAST OR HAVE ANY LONG-TERM SIGNIFICANCE.
While I realize finding someone physically attractive, someone with a nice personality, someone with a good job may all be criteria in finding a mate, if you do not focus first on the spiritual side of the relationship, it is doomed. I want to tell you now, without hesitation, that the reason for the high divorce rate amongst the people of God is because there was NO spiritual foundation in the relationship. That is why patience is critical.
While the downside to being single is loneliness, the upside is it allows you to grow and develop a real walk with Christ. It also gives you the power over what relationships you will enter into. There is a power in the fact you have choices you can make. Be picky. Be patient. Don't compromise who you will go out with. You do not have to find someone today. This is where your faith and trust in God becomes important as well. He knows your needs and desires. Trust Him. Have faith in Him that He is going to bring the right person into your life.
It pains me to know many of you are hurting from the loneliness of being single. I pray that today you will refocus on your walk with the Lord. I pray you will realize there is nothing wrong with being single. I pray you will know that God understands your needs and desires, and He will bring the right person into your life.
I will add, that like everything, it is a combination of God's sovereign will, and our responsibility. You can not expect to sit in the house, and wait for the Lord to send the right person knocking at your door. Like all battles, you need a gameplan, and you need to be faithfully executing the plan each day to see victory.
My emphasis today though is that as you are out looking for a mate, remember that unless your relationship has a spiritual base to it, it will not last. Use the time to solidify your walk with Christ. Be patient. Never forget that the Lord loves you, and will bring the right person into your life. Trust Him and wait on His perfect timing.
***Being single is OK!!!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If you have not made the decision to accept Christ into your heart and life by faith, the Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. Pray to ask God to open your heart, read the words, pray the prayer, and accept today God's gift to you of everlasting life through His son Jesus Christ.