They say it takes a village to raise a child; it also takes a village to prepare someone for marriage. If we really understood the importance of preparation, we’d readily turn to Godly mentors and the Bible for counsel.
All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The thoughts in this article are unashamedly Christian. I don’t apologise for I’ve found no other way for a relationship to last, nor reason to stay when the romance dwindles, then the unexplainable love Christ first gave me. The God who redeemed us from our own sin becomes our example for loving others in the face of unresponsiveness, temptation and disappointment.
The first lie Satan told Adam and Eve in Genesis 3.3 was that God would withhold good from them. I remember being terrified that if I allowed God to choose my life partner, He’d deliberately select a dud. But the more I learn about God, the more I understand that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Read Psalm 16.11, ‘At His right hand are pleasures forevermore’, and Psalm 84.11, ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.’
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.
Matthew 7:11
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; but I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
Secular movies, books and magazines tear apart God’s marital design. Scarcely are the rewards promoted by a man and woman who have remained virgins before marriage. And if we, the church, don’t teach young people how to date with a pure mind and body, how can we expect them to reserve sex for marriage when media bombards them with anything but?
Each of us has fallen very short of the glory of God {see Romans 3.23}. There are many who can testify that my 28 years of life have been far from clean, but I’ve encountered the God of second chances. Slate wiped clean, instruction given, and another chance offered. God is bringing victory over my past to improve decisions I am yet to make and encourage others who are still walking that fire.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done; that is, the saving of many lives
Genesis 50:20
For nearly three decades, people have sowed into my life during times of singlehood and times where I’ve been in relationships. I see the committed relationships unravelling around me and find myself more attracted to God’s will than what the world offers me. Behind a closed door, there is one request I pray for, that is a satisfying marriage with a Godly man that lasts a lifetime.
It is really hard to date in a God-fearing way; striving for purity amidst powerful temptations. How can you be patient when all you see are the reasons why he should ask you to be his wife? How can you employ self-control when your temperament calls for anything but? And is it your role to meet his God-given physical needs before you are married?
Prayer is crucial to our success in this journey. Further, the Bible is teeming with reasons to save sexual intimacy for marriage; as well as encouragement and help with our relationships as we strive to follow God’s plan.
Bless the Lord who is my Rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle.
Psalm 144:1
You are not alone in this struggle, and it’s called a battle for a reason. ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ {Ephesians 6.12}.
May you and I have the courage to believe that marriage can be as good and as lasting as God in His might, wisdom & grace, created it to be.
I choose the courage to be excited about it.
AUTHOR: Erin Raethel, attends Plus One Church, Avondale Memorial.