The Lord God is Awesome, Mighty, and Powerful. He is your strength and the solid rock you stand upon. He is your secure fortress and your shield, your stronghold in times of battle. He is your protector and defender, the only one who can truly save.
I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
He will cover you with His wings, surrounding you with the protection of His mighty hand. He will deliver you from the entrapment of the enemy and the deception of the deceiver. His faithfulness is a shield and barrier of protection that will not fail. Neither will you worry or fear when your faith and trust lie in the assurance of your Most High God.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. Psalm 91:1-6
He will carry you through the storm. He is your strong defender in times of trouble. You will not fear though the mountains quake and the valleys split, though the oceans rage and the rivers run dry. You will not have fear, for your Lord God rules and reigns both heaven and earth.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3
He will lift you from the pit, out of the miry clay. He sets you in a secure place, upon the Rock of Ages, you shall not be afraid. Your heart will sing and shout for joy. “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”
I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
He is the God who loves you, He is the God who never fails, He is the God over all the universe, and the God who holds your hand.
He is El Shaddai, The Most High God.
He is El Elyon, The Lord God Almighty.
He is Adonai, Lord Master.
He is Yahweh, Lord Jehovah.
He is Jehovah Nissi, The Lord My Banner.
He is Jehovah Raah, The Lord My Shepherd.
He is Jehovah Rapha, The Lord That Heals.
He is Jehovah Shammah, The Lord Is There.
He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, The Lord Our Righteousness.
He is Jehovah Mekoddishkem, The Lord Who Sanctifies You.
He is El Olam, The Everlasting God.
He is Elohim, GOD.
He is Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Will Provide.
He is Jehovah Shalom, The Lord is Peace.
He is Jehovah Sabaoth, The Lord of Hosts!
Who else is greater than God? There is no not one. No one is like Him! There is none greater, none higher, none more powerful, none more wise, none more loving, and none more forgiving than the Lord God Almighty!
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121
When you least expect it, the Lord may shower down His blessings upon you. When it is His time and His plan, He will spring it upon you suddenly. He will be overjoyed to pour out a blessing from Heaven so overflowing that you will not be able to contain it. He often works in the realm of suddenly.
This when you have given your everything to the Lord. To give of yourself as a living sacrifice for the sake of Christ. To give and to do whatever He says for you to do and go wherever He commands you to go.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
But understand it is not always the good and pleasant things that come suddenly. Many times your day is going great and suddenly you are hit by a trial or struggle. You may be attacked physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The Lord allows them to come that you may become stronger in the Spirit of the Lord, that you may cling tighter to the Lord, and trust that He will bring you through.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7
He teaches, corrects, and disciplines those He loves. If you are walking with the Lord you will have to learn many lessons. You need them so you will be prepared for what is ahead.
He will never take a babe in Christ and throw them into full-time ministry, to do the work of a veteran Disciple of Christ. Many times you are the one who jumps too soon, whose knee jerk reaction gets you in trouble, running ahead before you are ready. You get battered and bruised because you did not have the strength, fortitude, wisdom, or direction from the Lord for the task you decided to take on.
But praise the Lord because He is good, patient, merciful, and gracious to you always. Even if you run ahead of Him, stumble, and fall. He is always waiting with His hands out for you to come back into the fold that He can teach you the lessons you have neglected to learn. He will heal the wounds you inflicted upon yourself for your own over-zealousness.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to His children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. Psalm 103:8-13
That in itself is a great lesson. To be able to realize when you have done wrong when you have run ahead of the Lord or refused to do as He commanded. It takes a humble and strong person to admit you are wrong and go back to the beginning with a willing and humble heart to learn the lesson the Lord has for you.
Praise the Lord for He is always good. He will lovingly discipline His children that they will follow and obey Him as they should, as He deserves to be obeyed.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalm 145:10-13
Praise Him for He is Worthy. Wait upon Him for He knows what is best and He will lead you on the right path, the path of righteousness. Just at the right time, He will open the door that you may walk through. He will equip you with the right amount of wisdom, understanding, direction, and insight, and give you everything necessary for the journey ahead.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel. Psalms 103:1-7
Have you ever thought, “it would be nice if there was an instruction book on life?” The Word of God, the Bible is the instruction manual for life.
If you have a question about anything, go to the Bible, go to the Word of God. It has an answer for every question you could ever ask. The Lord has given you His Word to instruct, teach, guide, and correct you in every conceivable way.
There is no greater or more comprehensive book that will guide and direct the path of your life to true success, then the Bible. When I say true success I mean true righteous endeavors. Those things that will please God.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every word written in the Bible is the words given by Jesus, spoken through His spirit to those who wrote it down. Every page in the Old Testament points forward to Jesus Christ and every word written in the New Testament points back to Jesus Christ. He is the focal point of the Bible. His words are true, wise, practical, and profound. Listen to what He says.
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10:25-28
What does it mean when he said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself?” In this statement, the lawyer gives a complete summary of the entire Bible. It is a complete instruction manual of how you are to live. If you love God you will love others.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
Every commandment that the Lord has given, can be summed up in that statement. If you do this, you will live, and you will desire to not break His commandments such as lie, steal, murder, covet, commit idolatry, adultery, and more. This also is exactly what Jesus has said at a different time.
And Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
If you love the Lord you will love others. If you honor the Lord you will honor others. If you seek to obey the Lord you will obey His commands and do good to others. In every way you can imagine, the Word of God will lead, guide, and direct your steps if you are willing to let it and listen to His instruction.
Then if you listen to the Lord and do what He commands your thoughts, words, and actions toward all mankind will be good and acceptable to Him.
If you do not know, only obeying the Lord’s rules and laws will not save you, Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. The only way to save you from eternal death. But once you have confessed and repented of your sins, and trusted only in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior this is how you must seek to follow Him.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:5-10
If you are reading this and you have realized you have not trusted completely in Jesus and repented for your sins. Please go to the menu of my website thesoulsower.com and read one or more of the “Gospel Messages” that you may know how to be saved. Your eternal soul is at stake and I care enough for you, though I do not know you, to tell you the truth.
Let all of you who know the Lord and are known by the Lord to continue in the faith as you did at first, and do good to one another. That you will reap a harvest of righteousness in due time.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
The world wants to tell you that you can determine our own destiny! That you are in full control of your own life. “Live as you want and do what makes you feel good.” In a way this is true, you can choose your own path, and accomplish great things if you put your mind to it. But is that a wise way to live? Will you walk down the right path?
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:8-9
Though again, it is true you do have a choice between good and evil, right and wrong. You can choose to do what you want. But God will be the ultimate judge of what you choose to do. Everything you do here on earth has temporal and eternal consequences that will cause ripples into eternity of either good rewards or undesirable compensation.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8
Please understand what the Lord wants for you. He desires very good things for you. He wants pure, holy, righteous, and honorable things for you. Wicked desires, unholy activities, and unrighteous behavior are not good. The truth is that those things bring unpleasant consequences. What He is doing by commanding that you obey Him and do good and not evil is to save you from the suffering to come from your choices, and from the punishment they deserve.
Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:14-15
Wouldn’t it be much better for you to give yourselves over to God’s complete control and direction? To follow and obey Him totally and completely. If He has your best interest in mind. If He knows all things, sees all things, hears all things, and created all things, He knows the best way for you to go.
His plan for you is good, right, and perfect, and what you should be choosing is His ways, obeying His commands, and His direction. There is very much reward and blessing for those who choose His ways. He has made promises and He does not lie, good for good, and evil for evil.
God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:7
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Psalm 84:11-12
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. Proverbs 10:24
So turn yourself over to God, give Him every area of your life. Cleanse yourself before Him, repent of your evil ways, turn your eyes and attention to what He wants you to do, and where He wants you to go. Many times it is hard to tell which is the right path without directions.
Give Him the choice, give Him the reigns, walk on the good path He has chosen. Though it may be rough, steep, and difficult, the road He chooses for you will take you to heights you could never imagine. Then someday eternal rewards will be waiting for you in Heaven.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
‘Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 1:16-20
Praise the Lord Oh my soul and give Him all the glory, honor, praise, worship, and thanksgiving. For He is so very good. All He does is perfect and excellent. His loving kindness endures forever and His enduring patience waits for you to look up to Him. Always holding out His hands to catch you when you fall that He may catch, heal, and restore.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
Though you may be going through difficult times and trials, look to the Lord and be thankful for His discipline, for He cares for you. At this time and in this place you have been positioned for His will, plan, and purpose. Lay your worry at His feet and trust Him. Do not let it go to waste, everything He does has a purpose. But press into Him and learn from Him, you struggle is of great value.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
He cuts your edges like a craftsman cuts a precious diamond. His skill is beyond comparison and your beauty will shine like the heavens. Like nothing, anyone has seen before. That all may know you are His and that you may do His will to turn many to righteousness.
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3
Praise Him with a heart of thanksgiving, with shouts of joy, even in the valley, even in the storm He will hold you firm. He is seeking those whose eyes focus on Him and whose hearts turn to Him continually through raging storms and fierce confrontations, pressing ever forward to do His will.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24
In the moment of pain and struggle, true worshipers of the Lord will look up to Him and pray and worship with all their hearts, soul, mind, and strength. It is a sweet-smelling fragrance to the Lord when His saints call out to Him with a pure heart and a humble spirit.
Lift up your head, lift up your spirit, lift up your voice, and praise the Lord your God. For He is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Give thanks to Him for He holds you in His hands. Bless His holy name for He rules the nations and commands the heavens. Nothing escapes from His sight and from the rule of His mighty hand.
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all His praise?
Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. Psalm 106:1-5
Have you become concerned and worried about many different things lately? What is going on in the world, the violence, strife, unrest, division, and all the hatred people are spewing out? Perhaps it is your job, weather, money, fear of the future, or so many other things. You name it you could worry about it. When all these thoughts come flooding into your mind do you become anxious and say, “what am I going to do?”
Think about them for a minute. Peer into the possibilities of you having control over any of it. Can you control people, the government, the weather, or most things that cause you to worry and anxiety? Absolutely not! But there is One who does.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
But Jesus is in control over all things. There is One who holds your future and holds your hand through each and every situation and storm. He is the ruler of the Heavens and the Earth.
Though the Devil is raging and thinks he has the upper hand in many arenas. God is only allowing him to do what needs to be done to fulfill His purposes before He comes and puts the Devil and all his wicked ones in their place.
God knows exactly what you need, and so much more than you could ever know or understand. He knows what you are going to ask before you even ask it.
For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8
He takes care of His children and will not let them go astray, teaching them the right way to go, for that is what is important. It is more important that you follow and obey Him. It is more important to Him that you learn the lessons He has for you than for you to be comfortable.
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
Look at the birds, and all of creation, and the works of His hands upon the earth. He takes care of each and every one. Aren’t you so much more important to Him than all of these, oh child of God? Open your heart and open your hands to Him, give Him all your worries, concerns, and anxieties. Give it all to Him, keeping nothing for yourself.
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:25-27
He made all things, He will continue to hold them together. He sustains all things, He will persist and preserve what He has ordained. There is nothing you can do to add or subtract from what He has declared to be done. So give it all up to Him and rest in His arms.
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:28-30
What is worry? “To give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.” What is anxiety? “A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.”
In other words, if you worry you are not trusting God, if you become anxious you doubt His control, and if you fret your faith is small.
To worry is of no use, it is no good. There is no single situation that it will help to worry, fret, or fear. So lay it all down at the feet of Jesus, do not doubt. Trust Him and have faith. Focus on the task at hand, the work the Lord has given you, and on the goal that is of most importance, the Kingdom of God.
Put your hands to work, and your mind at ease. He will take care of the rest.
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
Have you ever went for a walk in the woods completely unfamiliar of the terrain, but at the same time confident of your sense of direction?
I went for a walk like this one time and as I walked the unfamiliar hills and woods I followed many twists, turns, and decisions on which way to go. At one point thinking I was going the right way, I was not and in fact was going another.
The land with all its hills, valleys, curves, with the turning and twisting river seemed to make sense to my sense of direction. The river went out and around the land like a peninsula. I had never seen this part of the woods before, so I went out in my confidence to see and explore this new place. But then I didn’t find what I expected, I found myself where I started. The river was straight and my path was crooked. I was wrong!!
How about you? Your life? Where are you going? Do you think your way is right? Are you going in a circle, always back where you started? Doing the same wrong things.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12
Have you lied? Have you stolen anything that wasn’t yours? Do you know that makes you a lying thief?
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Have you ever hated anyone or lusted after someone? Jesus said if you hate someone you have committed murder in your heart already, and if you lust after someone you have committed adultery already in your heart. These things you do, it is called sin, you are breaking His Law and sinning against God.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
Someday you all will die and will have to face God on Judgement Day, He is the Supreme Judge! You have broken his Law and He will judge you by His Law the Ten Commandments.
For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12
The Truth is You will be found guilty!! Do you know this? But He is gracious. He has provided a way to be forgiven.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
Jesus came as a man who was God in human form. 2000 years ago he came and died for your sins to take the punishment that you deserve. To take the complete Wrath of God and the punishment you deserve for all your life full of sins, to save you from an eternity of suffering in Hell.
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, Hebrews 9:27
Now he offers you forgiveness of your sins but you need to confess and repent of them, turning away from your life of sin.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18
Stop running around in circles. Going back to your sin. Trust in Him, trust in Jesus for your salvation for the only way for forgiveness of sins.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Pick up that bible start reading in the Book of John. Cry out to God to save you. How long will He be gracious to you and allow you to continue in your crooked ways? Will he give you years? Months? Day? Hours? You don’t know if tomorrow will come.
I pray that you are well and that the Lord is taking good care of you in every aspect of life, not just for the physical and those things that can be seen. But especially to the unseen things, your spiritual health. I know He loves you dearly and will protect His precious children, He cares for you so very much and always wants the best for you, that He will cause what seems at first to be a great pain to bring you to a place of maturity and adulthood in the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in the Lord.
I felt the Lord leading me to write you this letter that you may have a better understanding of what and why He has caused you to be single and kept you single. I pray that God will open your heart and your eyes to see and your ears to hear, that you will understand the great importance of what He is doing, and why He must do it.
He instructed me to tell you that it is a good thing to be single. Yes, it is a very good thing He has done. He is the one who made you single. It is a good and godly place He has put you in. You see He has been teaching me this same thing ever since I became single 7 years ago.
He pointed out 1 Corinthians 7 shortly after that time to give me insight and instruction of why He did it. It was for His will and purpose, and for very good reason. It will do you well to read and meditate on this entire chapter.
I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he(she) is. Are you bound to a wife(husband)? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife(husband)? Do not seek a wife(husband).But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 1 Corinthians 7:26-28
And Paul also said, “Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.” 1 Corinthians 7:6-8
I thought, “NO way Lord, I need a spouse, I need a helper, you know me!” But then the Lord was so good, He showed me that it was His plan for me to remain like this according to His will, He always does what is best for me. It has taken a long time to see that He is in complete control, even those who have been separated from me, or ran from me, it was Him who did it.
I have drawn ever closer to Him because of my singleness because He had afflicted me with this struggle. I am more devoted to Him because of it and I do not regret one single second that I have spent seeking His face and spending time with Him. He was the one who drew me close.
For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-16
I also have seen that those I sought out since then, that I thought might be good for me, were not. I always seem to choose the wrong one. You may be able to relate. He wants us to stop worrying about it, stop seeking someone, and seek after Him only and His will for your life. If it is His will He will bring the right one in His time.
I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:32-34
What I am saying is if God has caused you to be single, do not go looking for someone to be a partner. Because the Lord has given you the privilege of having Him as your partner and to draw you closer to His side and deeper into His affection and love. He is your spouse. It is a gift.
“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:4-8
He is the one you should be devoted to, the one you should seek to please, and the one you should desire. It is a special time of spiritual growth and maturity that He wants to accomplish in your life. He wants you to lean only on Him, look to Him, and not to your own understanding.
He also gave me this thought about seeking a partner of my own. “If I go and seek out the whole world for the right one, I will find a million who is the wrong one. But only the Lord knows who the right one is, the one He has chosen for me. Also, if it is His will that I remain single as Paul did, it is for my benefit and for His glory that I must remain this way. I should not work against the Lord in this manner.”
I understand what Paul was saying now. I also completely understand that this is a very hard and difficult struggle to comprehend and to move forward with this understanding at this very moment. But I know what God has planned is so much better than what you want or desire.
All I have to do is look back for a second and remember all the bad choices and decisions that I made by myself and know that the Lord’s ways, plans, purpose, and will are much better for me. He always has our good in mind. He will always work it out for good.
May the Lord bless you with His wisdom and understanding on this matter. It may be hard and difficult in so many ways to understand this truth and hard to grasp why He does what He does. But you know that your God is an all-knowing God and He never makes a mistake. You just have to give it all up to the Lord, putting it into His hands, and not take it back. Trusting completely in His plan for your life, follow and obey without question. This is the faith He is looking for.
You are here not for yourselves but to serve Him and to turn others to the Lord. To save souls from the grips of sin, death, and eternity in hell. There is nothing more important than the destination of the souls of mankind. Go ahead and lean into the Lord and draw closer to Him. Then move forward in the will of the Lord and seek to save the lost. The souls of mankind will be the only thing you will be able to take from this world with you to Heaven.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:7-9
I pray that the Lord takes care of you in every way dear single friend. May He lead, guide, direct, provide, and protect you as you turn your face to Jesus to listen and obey Him in everything that you do. To devote yourself wholly to Him in every aspect of your life. God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you that you will seek the Lord all the days of your life.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28
Of all those who have gone before you, of all those that were commended by God as being righteous, of all those who were found acceptable in His sight, of all of those who were found to have pleased God the Father, of all those who the world was not worthy, all of them were characterized by one specific trait. They were found worthy because of their faith in God.
Not a man’s idea of faith. Faith that the sun will come out tomorrow. Faith that the chair will not break under your weight. Faith that after winter comes spring. Faith that the pain will fade away or faith that eventually everything will be ok. No, faith in God is so much more than the things that are predictable, than the things that can be seen or touched.
Those who have true unbreakable, unshakable and unparalleled faith in God go above and beyond the norm. Without shame, they believe without doubting, move forward without delay, and jump without looking when ordered by the Lord.
They have faith in God for who He is, that His words are true and that if He declares it, it will happen. Nothing He declares is impossible. Though all the things mankind thinks are unfeasible, unthinkable, unbelievable, and unimaginable. It is easier than snapping one’s fingers for God and it is done.
Look to the faithful whose testimony has stood the test of time. Examine their faith in the face of opposition, the proof of their faith by what they accomplished, what they overcame, what they suffered and endured, and the unwavering conviction they retained to the very end.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea, By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, Hebrews 11:4,5,7,8,11,17,20-25,29-31
It was their firm faith in God that moved them forward. It was their faith that gave them the strength and confidence to do the unthinkable. When all others would have scoffed and turned away, they set their faces toward the will of the Lord and forged ahead into uncharted waters.
They did not worry if they would reach their goal or receive the promise. But they looked ahead by faith to the unseen, they forged forward by faith into the unknown, and by faith, they did not doubt the one who is faithful, the one who is true, and to the God who is above all things.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Hebrews 11:32-38
They all walked by faith believing in the all-powerful almighty God. They were described by words that baffle the mind. “Of whom the world was not worthy.” Yes, it was their faith that made them worthy. Yet they didn’t even receive what was promised.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40
But God has promised you so much more than what they ever know was possible. Of Heaven, of glory, of majesty, and of a celestial city prepared for you. Where there is no more night, no scorching sun, no more sorrow, pain, or woe.
Where you will live forevermore with the one who gave it all for your very soul. To an eternity where you will rule and reign as an heir to the Kingdom of God alongside Jesus Christ the Lord, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
There will be many times and in many ways that Satan and his demons will come and tempt you, or cause you to become offended. He will worm his way in unknowingly and whisper deceitful things to tempt you. Some may be obvious but mostly they will be crafty, slay, and manipulative. The Devil is a liar. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
He will use your own sinful ways, desires, and past to cause you to fall to his schemes. Resist him firm in your faith and walk in the Spirit of the Lord as the guard over your mind, mouth, and deeds.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
The Devil is so very crafty, he has been at this for thousands of years, knowing exactly how to cause mankind to fall, he knows each and every sin you have committed, After all, he is the accuser of the brethren. Do not fall victim to an offense.
He will even take your own sin and project it upon others, causing you to become offended by the sin you think they have committed, thinking they are just like you. You may have superimposed your own attitude in a comment or message, or think they are lying because you have a tendency to lie. When in fact they did not commit that sin at all, or not in the way you perceived it.
But you fell victim to the Devils trap and you were deceived by your sinful ways. He deceived you into believing a lie and you became offended. An offense can come by actual sin or perceived sin. They are both the bait of Satan and we fall into his trap far too often.
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us”? James 4:1-5
He will even use scripture mixed with lies to entice you, to try to cause you to fall victim to his lies. But remember who you serve and that the Holy Spirit is your greatest ally. The Devil is a liar and that is all he can do. Not only is he lying, but his promises also fall flat. But he doesn’t even possess what he says he will give you, neither does he care if you get it.
Take Jesus as your example and cast him away by the truth of God’s Word.
Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command His angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him. Matthew 4:5-11
Remember the purpose of the Word of God is to convict you of sin, it cuts deep that sin may be rooted out, and then it heals over the wound and pain it caused in your life.
Its purpose is not primarily to point the finger at others but to point the finger at yourself. God desires to remove those thoughts, words, and behaviors that displease Him, that you may be more like Him. He will discipline those children He loves.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:11-13
Examine your own heart and your own ways, as you examine and read the Word of God to know what is right and what is wrong. The Word that is Jesus, that which is His Word of instruction, and the Bread of Life that will give you sustenance for your spirit and soul. Ask the Lord to reveal any wrong or grievous ways that still remain in you.
Then be prepared for God to allow you to fail, to fall to temptation. This is the alarm that He will be sound to show you your own sin. Then ask the Lord to do a work in your heart, mind, and soul, and change you in a way that only He can. It takes determination and work. He is waiting for you to turn to Him to root out your sin, no matter how large or small.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
