With Valentines day next week, I thought to release this episode today for those who are still waiting to find your spouse. This is such an important decision and with all the complexities that come with life, prayer is essential when you are deciding who you want to get married to. Today we almost don’t see marriages lasting until death does us part but at the drop of a hat people want to shout the D word and end the relationship. Approaching this season in your life is important to making a good decision as it relates to who you will get married to.
Be blessed as you listen below.
Bible Verses and Episode Notes
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22
This verse states that it is good to be married. Today’s emphasis on individual freedom is misguided. Strong individuals are important, but also strong marriages. God created marriage for our enjoyment and he pronounced it as good. This is one of many passages in the Bible that show marriage as a joyful and good creation.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
Our prayers are often motivated by our own interest and desires. We like to hear that we can have anything but Jesus prayed with God’s interest in mind. As you pray to find your spouse, also pray and seek God so that His purposed will be fulfilled through both of you individually and also together after you are married. Your callings should be compatible.
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4
This verse speaks about getting to know God intimately. This is the only way that you are able to delight in God… By knowing who is and that He is a good heavenly father. This verse also gives us a promise that He will give us the desires of our heart. When I see verses like this, I like to call it “heavenly physiology. God tells us to do something promising something else and in the process we will draw closer to know him better. And as we know him better He is able to put in our hearts what we should really be desiring.
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:4-6
In this verse, Jesus pointed out that God intended marriage to be permanent and mentioned in this verse that no one should separate. Marriage is a permanent institution and separation an divorce should not be something that is considered as a easy way of escape. The truth about marriage is that it will stretch you to learn how to love like Jesus does. Marriage will cause us to mature and love sacrificially. In the hard times, don’t just look for the way out but look to overcome challenges and grow spiritually as a result of your marriage. Single people need to keep this mind as they search for their spouse.
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Practically speaking, when both you and your spouse can come side by side and do live together, it will bring you so much more benefits. Life is designed for companionship, not isolation. For intimacy, not loneliness. Don’t try to do live on your own.
“The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18
God designed man and woman to be together to work together to accomplish great things. Long periods of isolation are not good for anyone. God created woman for man so that he can have intimate companionship and help as they fulfill Gods purpose.
“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” Proverbs 12:4
Just as a king wears a crown on his head and it is a symbol of authority and status, a Husband feels the same way when his wife is of noble character. Women, as you seek to be married be sure to develop the character in your lives so that you can be that wife of noble character.
“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” Proverbs 19:14
This verse is saying that woman should be Wise ad show discretion in all that they do. As you do this you will become a gift to your husband. Similar to the last verse, you should strive to develop this characteristic in your life.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
Apostle wrote this verse and he was urging believers not to form binding relationships with non-believers because this might weaken their Christian commitment, integrity or standards. Don’t settle for anyone just because they are available, God has the best and perfect person for you and you don’t have to compromise your relationship with God. In fact, the person that you are dating should encourage you to peruse God more than you did before.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25
This one is to the men, Be prepared to sacrifice for your wife. Just as Christ Gave us his life for the Church, ever man is to love his own wife sacrificially also.
”Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
Genesis 24:1-4
Just as Abraham sent a servant to find a wife from a specific place so to God will direct your path so that you can be in the right place where you can find your spouse. God will also let you know when the time is right for you to be married.