Happy Valentine’s Day, BLISS fam! As this headline may suggest, I don’t have a personal prophetic word for your personal love life, sorry. But what I do have to share in this post on this special day is a reminder that you and I are beautiful works in progress.
Instead of any feelings of dread or cynicism about a commercialized holiday to celebrate love, take a moment or two for some self reflection regarding how you’re preparing for a healthy, God-led relationship and marriage.
You can take all the random Facebook quizzes in the world, but the real work depends on you in part because we have the responsibility to trust God and prepare. I’m sharing some examples from my own personal experience so that you may have an idea of what it looks like from a practical sense. So, are you ready for what you want? Here are a few ways to tell you’re on the right path:
You’re surrounding yourself with the right things
Start off your new year, or a new month with a fast. I joined my church in fasting for 21 days in the beginning of the year. Let me tell you—God will provide a replacement for what you decide to sacrifice. I logged out of my personal YouTube account and logged into another one with an alternate email address and found new content and music that uplifted God. It’s not that what I was listening to and watching before was all that bad, it just wasn’t God-centered. You can almost feel a difference when you make that switch.
Consider: What are you following, subscribing to, listening to, reading and entertaining in this season? Is it truly benefiting you spiritually or in your development as a healthy adult? How is it influencing your perspective on love and marriage?
You’re quicker to obey God this time around
I remember my mom asked me to walk our dog. I was in the middle of reading a good book and I don’t want to put it down. Instead of complaining, or suggesting someone else in the home walk him, I just said okay and got ready to do what was asked of me. That’s how it is with God in our relationship with Him too. Not only was I honoring my mother, I was putting into practice submission to someone who is responsible for my well being, similar to submitting to a spouse.
Consider: In what areas do have you improved over the past year? What are you still working on or what is the Holy Spirit convicting you about lately? What was the last thing you had to repent about?
You’re getting your affairs in order
I’m making God a priority in my day, paying down my debt, and looking for new ways to take care of myself from fitness classes to therapy and making time for self-care routines. It reminds me of a wise verse in Proverbs 24:
“Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; afterward build your house and establish a home.” v.27 AMP
The AMP version explains that “Establishing your priorities and proceeding in an orderly manner brings its own reward.” Putting your faith into action by “finishing your outdoor work” is enduring and embracing the process of becoming who God calls us to be—for marriage or not. A relationship is not a reward, the becoming can be though.
Consider: What are your daily priorities? Are you keeping track of your goals for this year so far? What has God instructed you or put on your heart to do in this season?
Something about this year feels different in a good way. Many of us have heard a word or have a hopeful outlook about our relationship status or current relationship. I want to encourage you to not lose that hope and godly expectation for what the Lord will do for you this year.
Having Christ in the center of your relationship starts with you having Him in your single life beforehand.
These are a few key ways to prepare for marriage. Whatever God is leading you to do in this season, don’t complain, don’t fight the changes within and around you, and just trust His will. Father God is truly up to something, but if we stay focused—this time—we will see a difference in how we approach our wait, who we meet and date, and our level of contentment in singleness before marriage.
