R. J. Rushdoony said, "If we are members of Christ's Kingdom, the hopes of our heart are governed by covenant goals."
Fast and pray for God's will to be done on earth as in heaven (Matt. 6:10), "Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. 10:5) If you desire to marry a godly man, pray without ceasing that God would prepare you and your future husband for marriage and that He would reveal His Will. Pray that God would bless this young man with a godly, faithful, loving wife (even if it isn't you) who will do him good and not evil all the days of her life (Prov. 31:12). Yes, you might even be spending nights in tears, wrestling with God (Gen. 32:24-28) in prayer, beseeching Him to bless this man (and you). Trust God to fulfill your desires (Psa. 37:3-8) and answer your prayers. He who gave His life for you will do yet more than care for you. Psalms 37:8 says, “Do not fret, it tends only to evildoing.” God loves to bless His children with good gifts. (Matt. 7:11) As Martin Luther said, "Pray and let God worry." (God doesn't worry, He decrees whatever comes to pass.)
One of the best things to do with these desires is to communicate - with your parents. Ask them what areas you need to grow in. Listen to them. Do not despise their counsel. Only "fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Prov. 1:7) For a long time my father said, Melody, you should write, read Rushdoony. It will be a real asset to your husband. Also, practice piano, lose 10 lb...
Prepare for marriage, motherhood and home economy (Prov. 31). Love and serve your family. Nothing brings out one's weaknesses and sins more than everyday interaction with their family. Ask God to sanctify you and count you worthy of His calling (2 Thess. 1:11-12). Seek wisdom and understanding. What has God given you to do? Find ways to be a blessing to others. Disciple, have wisdom and the law of kindness on your tongue (Prov. 31:26).
Don't get in the way of what God is doing with this man, no matter how much you desire to marry him, and think you “deserve” him. He is God's man with covenant obligations and a mission to accomplish (Gen. 1:28, Matt. 28:18-20). God is the only infallible matchmaker and He's about the business of advancing His kingdom and glorifying Himself. Remember, men have great responsibilities and corresponding temptations. Pray for them. Pray that God preserves them from the pit of the immoral woman (Prov. 22:14). Don't tempt them to sin in your dress. Show unfeigned, unselfish love for this "brother." Endeavor to see past this season of life and strive to form kingdom advancing friendships.
Seek first the kingdom of God, loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut. 6:5-6); love His bride, the church; love and serve your family.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 25-26)
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)
5 comments:
Amen, Melody. These are good words and reminders for men and women alike. May we seek God first and His kingdom, living to serve, not living to be served; just like Christ. Oh, may He indeed give us strength to be that as brothers and sisters in Christ likewise. Not to be looking at one another, face to face, to see what one can get out of the other, but looking at the path of God ahead and seeing what we can do to sharpen each other in humility, truth, and joy in the tender mercies and grace of God.
Excelent, Melody! I really needed this! I love the verses from Jude. I put them on my Christmas cards that will go out this year.
Sometimes a Christian's hopes are not "governed by covenant goals" and they become so consumed by these hopes to the point of marrying a non-believer, which is obviously not a match God would guide one into. His Word is infallible, but not people's choices are not. I do not think God would decree a unequally yoked marriage. He is completely sovereign, yes. In that sovereignty was his choice to let people make their own choices, whether God-honoring or not.
"Lose 10 lbs." ?
Really?
Does God really want her to lose 10 lbs?
I think instead God would exhort that you love your children as they are, not as you imagine them to be in your perfect mental caricatures.
Truly disturbing, honestly.
Looking back at pictures of when my now-fiancé met me, I am grateful for a father who loved me enough to tell me what I needed to hear. No, I didn't like it at the time; correction is seldom pleasant. But I decided that out of love, I would do my level-best, and God was pleased to bless it.
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