Valentines day. It is common for us single people to use valentines day as an excuse to wallow in the fact that it is another year we are still waiting for the husband or wife that is not here yet.
Yet singleness is a season of joy and delight and that is ours for the choosing. The last few days I have been sharing my testimony with people again especially the part about putting my hope in a relationship with a man and not God.
I was reminded of the concept of the first love. Not all loves in our lives are equal after all I love my parents more than I love chocolate brownies. The Greeks used many words for love. Philia which is the love of a things. Romantic love which was Eros and agape which is unconditional love.
What is your first love? Which love is above and before, if it came to the crunch which love would you fight for and if you did which would you lay down your life for.
This is how God showed his love among us he sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him. This is love, not that we loved God but that he sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
This is love giving up something precious for someone more precious. Giving the deepest desires of your heart to the only one who can fully fulfill them. Choosing him as your first love as he chose you then it is only right to choose him right back.
If you spend the single years longing to be married then you will miss the tender words of the only one who can fully quench your hearts thirst for love and acceptance.
Many people believe that being married will solve all their problems but that is not true. As hard as single life is so is married life too. Because it is life. Is it fair to expect another person to solve your problems? Of course not that is not a mature response.
Maybe this season is for your first love the one who loves you on a level that is not human to do so. Perhaps he is growing and preparing you for something in a way he couldn't if you were married. He delights over you, he loves you more than anyone ever could.
The truth is that marriage is not eternal. Even the best marriages last 80 years or so at most. His love him as the husband of your soul.
In that day declares the lord you will call me " my husband". (Hosea 2:16)
He is our husband and we his bride.
My heart just is his. It is clear that we need to guard our hearts because they are the wellspring of our lives. That means taking thoughts and obsession with someone captive and choosing not to obsess in liking someone just keep surrendering the thoughts and feelings to the Lord. Guarding your heart is important.
Also the single season is awesome because you are less distracted by the romance of men. It is a season of joy and happiness and love you just have to choose it. Even if the call to marriage you can feel in your bones like a fire.
I will end with this thought what if we put the same energy praying for revival as we did thinking and praying for a husband do you not think that we will bring the kingdom of heaven closer.
