Psalm 139:23-24( NLT)
“23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24; Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
I heard a man of God say the other day that you can’t be ready for marriage and be selfish at the same time – the two don’t go together. When I heard this statement, it instantly made me think about the people that I personally know who have a history of being all about themselves. But they also have determined to be ready to share their lives with another. The process of going from single to happily married requires spiritual preparation in Christ. This is at times uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable because we will have to get rid of some of the habits and patterns we currently have and be committed to place the welfare and well-being of another person above our own. Some of us haven’t yet acquired a vision for what that might look like.
Many of God’s sons and daughters are waiting for their right person. They are expecting this person to make their joy complete and bring them the fulfillment they’ve been missing. The reality is that Colossians 2:10 declares that God has already made us complete in Jesus Christ. So, there can be no doubt in our minds that our Heavenly Father wants us to renew our minds to what He has done for us through the finished works of Jesus Christ.
As God’s daughters, we must be clear that it’s not all about becoming the best version of yourself for the man, it’s becoming your best for God. He has a plan for your life, and this plan was in Him long before you were born. Being a wife has been factored into the equation, and you know this by the desire for marriage that God has placed in your heart. But it is important for us to understand that being a nice person, a good cook, or a good friend doesn’t necessarily qualify us as being good wives. In order to be a good wife, we must meet God’s standard, and this requires a habit pattern of living by His Word.
Anytime we attempt to change, whether it’s to achieve a particular goal or to receive a blessing, we’re going to look for the most expedient way to make it happen. Why? Because we want the instant results so we can “get on with it”. The world’s standard has taught many of us that a quick fix or quick results is better and more gratifying because after-all, who wants to wait for anything. This is not God’s way, and whether we honor or not, we can’t rush God. Anything worth having is going to be worth the wait, and God is showing us this in real time.
Jesus Christ commanded us in Matthew 6:33(NLT), “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” This is our Father’s promise. He will supply all our needs, and He has commanded us to come to Him firs, before we attempt to go anywhere else. In many cases, our overzealousness demonstrates that our lack of patience with God’s process, and we must address this before we address anything else. We must pray for God to help us in the discipline of patience and endurance, because both are incredibly necessary for a successful marriage.
Life is designed to comply with God’s order and laws. He doesn’t change and neither does His Word. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There are spiritual lessons about the love of Christ that we will need to learn before we meet the man that God will send. Do not assume you are ready, let God tell you that you’re ready. You must seek Him by staying in His Word and saturating your mind and heart with it. If you haven’t begun to do this, begin now and show God that you are eager to learn, eager to love like Jesus Christ, and eager to become your best for Him. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Becoming Your Best for God”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.