I'm In Love!!!!!!!!!!!!

.....with being single,"I'd rather be alone and in the Lord's will than in a relationship and out of it." Wise words shared with me by someone vital to my life. Considering I slammed on the men folk in my last post I thought I would attempt to take a little heat of of them in this one. It's time for us ladies to do our share of the heavy lifting. A few weeks ago I was talking with a close sister in Christ about life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Of course for me this includes boy talk as well. HA! She was sharing about her struggles, encouragements, and life before and after she and her husband married. It was very eye opening to hear from a young married Christian lady the work that sometimes marriage can be. Even when it is totally right and you have dated or "courted" in a way that was honoring to the Lord, and continue to follow Him with your days and nights. I knew before this that marriage wasn't only fun it is also work, but it never hurts to hear it again. Keeps us singles from romanticizing it too much. One thing she mentioned to me about their courtship was the chapter of his life before he finally asked her on a date. At some point her now husband shared with her that prior to dating her, he had been praying for a long time. He had been asking the Lord repetitiously for permission to pursue his "Juliet", but the Lord kept telling him "no". The Lord eventually told this young "Romeo", "yes" and they are now married with three beautiful children after a very sweet courtship.

I can't help but linger on the idea that she had no idea her "Romeo" had been asking permission from her heavenly Father. Also, she had no idea her heavenly Father was telling him "no". Would she had carried herself any differently had she known what her soon to be husband was asking the Lord ? Would her patience had been any different ? Would her interest in him waver at all ? Would she seek her own peace about the relationship or rely on "Romeo's" surety that they where to marry ?

It poses the question, who might be praying for permission to pursue you that you aren't aware of ?  What should you be asking the Lord in preparation ? Hopefully, eventually, if you feel you are called to be a help meet and are seeking a man that seeks the Lord then both of these questions will be important to you at some point. Why wait to begin answering them ? While you may not be able at the moment to answer who might be praying to pursue you, the answer to how should you be preparing for pursuit is in your hands. Yesterday I shared a few books that I feel are a true assist to the single lady. I still support that idea and will add those links to this blog as well. I believe that those books can help you answer the question, "What should I be doing for the Lord and asking the Lord in preparation for "the one" who will pursue my heart with a heavenly pursuit ?" I've often heard it said that your friends and how you spend your time are a reflection of who you are. This idea persuaded me to believe that how time is spent, who time is spent with, etc. would also decide who might be "attracted" to the pursuit of you. How are you spending your time ? How are you praying in preparation for what you feel called to? If you dream of being a wife and mother some day then I don't know that you should wait until those titles are official before planning. It seems to me that when love strikes it is a whirlwind and all logic is at times tossed out the window. You don't wait for a tornado to hit before you fill water bottles and get batteries do you ? So, why would this be any different ?

I'd like to confront you with the thought that you might not know everything. You may have no idea how the Lord is leading "your man". Think about what could cause you to stumble, struggle, hurt, etc. as a single and pray on those same areas for your future "Mr.". I pray OFTEN for my future husband. While I am in love with single life most of the time, I do feel called as someones other half. I know some will find that thought simply archaic, but I think my fellow believers will completely understand.  I should not wait to meet "him" to begin praying for him. I have no clue what paths will lead us to one another. With that calling on my life and lack of knowledge on how we will get to one another, it is my DUTY to be praying, preparing, and even planning now for what my future may hold. No, I do not mean I have a dress picked out and bridesmaids on call. I do mean plan what will be important to a family. Can you cook? Should you learn ? Do you know how to grocery shop? What is your definition of a mother ? What is the definition of a family budget? What is known about a vary of things? I don't think any of those questions should wait to be answered. 

I want to encourage you to begin praying and preparing for what/who the Lord may have for you. I hope to bring to your attention that the one waiting for you might just be debating these questions as well. Allow the Lord, your heavenly Father to keep your heart for you. Trust that He will protect you better than you can until it is time for your heart to be shared with one of His sons. Be secure and graceful in your time as a single. Do not panic. If you have been called by the Lord to such an amazing task as wife and mother He will be sure to provide what is needed for that call in His perfect timing. And if you haven't, if His call for you is the life of a single....feel honored that He knew you could handle it. And finally, you never know what the Lord may be telling your "man". My hope is that the "man" will obey The Father.

Love y'all!!! 

Psalm 1:1-6
¹Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
²But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
⁴The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
⁵Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
⁶For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 4:24
²³Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.

Preparing to Be A Help Meet - Author Debi Pearl http://nogreaterjoy.org/blogs/preparingtobeahelpmeet/book/

Lady in Waiting - Author Jackie Kendall -http://www.jackiekendall.com/node/27

A Man Worth Waiting For - How To Avoid A Bozo - Author Jackie Kenall http://www.jackiekendall.com/node/24