In, Out or Waiting
Dear Friend,
In love, out of love, waiting for love…
It's Valentine’s Day and your love status can’t help but be at the forefront of your thoughts. It can feel like the cruelest of “holidays” or the most anticipated day of your year or somewhere in-between depending how things are going for you.
Push the thoughts of flowers, hearts, candy, and cards aside and pull open God’s word. His promises are GOOD for you and it’s a good time to remind yourselves of that.
Jeremiah 29:11 11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Reread that, to prosper you and to give you hope and a future! Trust His plan! Don’t fall for the pressure to “make things happen” by compromising yourself or deciding not to wait on God’s plan. Taking this into our own hands his like climbing in the seat of a roller coaster and deciding not to pull the safety bar down across your lap! You’re willing to risk that you know better, and that the ride won’t throw you out of that seat. The safety bar is a no brainer, and if you’re like me, I push that sucker down a little tighter! Trusting in His is plan is that safety bar! Yes, His plan can take longer than we want, BUT His plan is for your GOOD! He knows exactly what you need because He can see the whole picture!
So, what do you do while you're waiting? You dodge every sabotage!
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
We often think of our heart as our emotional core, this is true, but in bible times this word encompassed our emotions, our will, and our thoughts. It is all of us, of me, of you. With that in mind this verse makes even more sense “EVERTHING you do flows from it!” That’s why we must guard it above all else. Even and especially in love! Being “yoked” or connected to the wrong love will hurt or even destroy your heart.
Practically, how does that look? #1: Follow what God says in His word about sexual purity and lust. That’s the foundation. Don’t compromise! #2: We must listen to the leading and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction. Here are a few other practical suggestions based on your “love status”.
Single and waiting on God: Be aware of what you are putting in front of your eyes and into your ears. Watching romantic movies or reading romantic stories will only increase your desire to have what you see or read. Pay attention to your music too! Everyone has “that song”. Hit skip, remove it from the playlist or change the station. Don’t play around because your patience and waiting will be sabotaged, and you will most likely find yourself feeling lonelier and more frustrated. You will find yourself struggling to trust God and be at peace and have contentment in your season.
In a troubled marriage: Avoid anything that causes you to compare your spouse or your marriage to what you see. Marriage is not a smooth and easy road. Hollywood, books, and social media can set up completely unrealistic images of marriage. Godly marriages take God’s help. Satan is sneaky; doubt and comparisons are some of his most powerful tools if we give him the option. Adam and Eve are prime examples, he tempted them to doubt God’s plan. We know how that went. Go to God’s word. Stand on it, wrap your heart in it and trust nothing outside of it and the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to help you find a way to be love to your spouse on Valentine’s Day even though things are going well. Drop your ideals and listen the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is good, He is the lover of your soul. Fight the good fight, and He will bring victory! If you find yourself in an undesirable status for this V Day, let’s just change what that “V” means in our hearts. The V now means that you are waiting for God to bring the Victory to your love life. Buy yourself some flowers and know that God’s plan for you smells more amazing and is more beautiful that any roses. Buy yourself some candy and know that God’s plan for you will taste sweeter than anything you can create for yourself!
The Lord is faithful, trust His plan!
C. Workman
