Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles |
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life. | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “With or without a mate, I can live a full life that is pleasing to God, and I will be rewarded.” |
Apparently, this is a common problem. I found a couple of YouTube videos and computer forums with possible fixes, and went to the computer’s website, but to no avail. The icon still says, “plugged in, not charging.” This has been going on for a few days, but on this day, it hit me that this is exactly how I feel sometimes with my relationship with Christ. I feel like I am plugged in and not charging. In other words, I know that Christ and I are connected, but I feel stagnant in my life. I feel like I am not moving forward with Him. I feel drained.
Yes, I go to church. I worship sincerely. I read my Bible daily. I read devotions. I pray. I try to live a life that is pleasing to God. I am not trying to sound like the Pharisee that was praying in the New Testament. I am just wondering if there is anyone else that has felt plugged in, yet still empty. You feel like you are doing everything that you know to do. You are seeking God to find out what else you need to do. Why are you stuck in this place? Why can’t you move into the next phase of your life?
Well, as I continued to troubleshoot the laptop/battery/charger issue, I noticed a common theme with this problem. The issue generally happened when using a universal charger; that is to say, a charger that is compatible with many different types of computers, but not specifically made for your particular model. That is what I have because it was less expensive than ordering a new part from the company where I bought my computer. And, as I read through several pages that said, “Don’t use a universal charger,” I had an epiphany. Maybe I feel like I am plugged in, but not charging because I am using a universal standard with which to measure my life rather that the standard of the original Source of my life.
So many times, we get caught up in what the world says our lives should be. And, although we pray and praise, we feel like something is being held back from us. We are plugged in with universal chargers and we are not charging. Instead, we must rely on God; live in His presence, with holy reverence. We must realize that there is no universal formula for each of our lives. Rather, God has a unique and individual plan for each and every one of us to live a good life; a full life. And, what is more, for those who believe in Him and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, that life never ends. It will continue throughout eternity.
There is nothing that God is holding back from us, that is literally the oldest trick in the Book (see devil vs. Eve in Genesis). I still probably need a new charger or a new laptop, but I definitely don’t need anything that God has not already given me. We must trust in His plan for our lives, so that we do not find ourselves plugged in, but not charging.
Thank You, God for providing me with
every opportunity to have a full life on Earth and in Heaven.
Please forgive me for thinking that You are holding
anything back from me.
Lord, please help me to not just be plugged in to You,
but recharged daily by Your Word, Your guidance and Your grace.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Twenty Five
Masterpiece
Scripture: Galatians 5:25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: "I am working for God and myself, not wearing myself out for someone else. That may sound selfish, but if you’re single, this is the time for a little selfishness. You always keep God first, and He will make sure that you are not crossing the line between being a little selfish and totally self-centered. So use your "me time.'" |
God, the ultimate Creator, has many masterpieces; too many to number. Anyone who finds his or her fulfillment in living the life that God has for him or her is one of His masterpieces. As such, as the Scripture suggests, each of us is an original. There is no comparing my life to your life. There is no time for that. There is time, however, to explore every intricate detail of ever unique quality that God has given you…especially, if you are single.
God has sewn each of us together in such a particular way that when we tap into the greatness for which He has called us, we can be an amazing asset to this world and more importantly to the Kingdom of God. However, we get so caught up in what others are doing, what gifts they have, what talents they possess, or what people surround them, that we downplay how marvelous God has made us.
We must stop comparing. If we choose to live a life led by the Spirit and really work every detail of our lives according to His plan, then we have to trust that He has given us what we need in every moment of every day of our lives. We must not yield to the temptation to say that another of God’s masterpieces is greater or has it better because they have something that we desire. We must focus on our own mission, our own imprint in this world, and the impact on society that God has chosen for us. The season of singleness gives ample opportunity for this exploration.
Much like we would not compare works of Picasso to those of Beethoven because they are completely different genres, we cannot compare ourselves to another Christian, or non-Christian for that matter and say that God may one more special than the other. God knows every one of our capabilities and vulnerabilities and He is able to use it all for His glory. He can take each of us and make a masterpiece if we will surrender and only compare ourselves to the example of Christ, and not other people.
Thank You, God for making me an original.
Thank You for having a specific plan for my life.
Please forgive me for comparing my life to the lives of others.
Please forgive me for downplaying your ability
to make me into a masterpiece.
Lord, please help me to focus on being
the person that you need me to be.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Eighteen
Where’s Your Head At?
Scripture: Matthew 6:21 “Where your treasure is, there your thoughts will also be…” | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “Before any hunt begins and before there is any capture, single[s] need to focus on their relationship with God.” |
Perhaps these thoughts crowd my mind because that is where my treasure lies in those moments. At those times, I want nothing more for my life than to have this picture perfect ideal family fantasy. And, there is nothing wrong with desiring to be in a family unit. God created family. The problem arises when we stop just thinking casually about these desires and begin to fixate on the desires.
There is a problem when our focus is shifted from God to our desires. There are so many verses in the Bible about guarding our thoughts. Thoughts can lead to actions. And, depending on what our thoughts are, those actions may be disobedient to God. That is why we are instructed to think on true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy things (Philippians 4:8). If we are thinking about these things, then the actions that follow cannot help but be pleasing to Him.
The things that we spend the most time thinking about show God what we truly treasure. The most dangerous thoughts are ones about issues or people that seem benign. I am not talking about illicit sexual thoughts, hateful thoughts, or destructive thoughts. I am speaking of thoughts about family, friendships, and finances. I am talking about the thoughts that start off in a good place in your heart, but end up being used by the devil to cause you to doubt God.
The devil will take the thing that you desire most and ask, “Why hasn’t God sent you a husband yet?” Or, “Why won’t God give you that job you have been working so hard for?” The devil will make you think that God has been holding out on you. He has been using the same trick since the beginning of humankind. Why stop now? It still works. He convinces us that God doesn’t want us to have something that is good for us. So, we set our sights on making sure that the good thing happens. We take our focus away from God and begin focusing on what we truly treasure, and then, the devil has us right where he wants us.
God is the ultimate treasure. I am not saying that every thought we have is going to be about God; I do not know anyone who can do that. However, God and His ways and His will should be the only thoughts on which we fixate. Living the life that He has planned should captivate our thoughts. Our relationship with God should be our only obsession.
Thank You, God for being the greatest treasure.
Please forgive me for thinking too hard about other things
that distract me from living the life You have for me.
Lord, please help me to keep my focus in the right direction.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Thirteen
Focus
Scripture: Matthew 14:29-31 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “God doesn’t want us to be alone if we desire not to be. But any time that you put anyone or anything before God, it is a sin and displeasing to God. God will not bless anything that is displeasing to him.” |
One of my favorite Peter moments is walking on the water. I was not there, so I do not know what was actually said by other people on the boat, but I can only imagine, based on my knowledge of human nature what the other passengers were thinking. Some probably thought Peter was very brave. Others probably thought he was a show-off. And, oh, when he started to sink! I can just hear it now, “Where’s your big faith now, Peter?” Or, “Mmm hmm, you thought you were all big and bad, Peter, now look at you. You’re going to drown!”
Why didn’t Peter just keep his eyes on Jesus? It could have saved him a lot of trouble and embarrassment. I have to ask myself that question more often than I like. Why can’t I just stay focused on Jesus? I was abstinent for over years. It started as a bargain with God (which we should never do, but I was young and foolish), but then, I began to see how much more clearly I saw the world when I was not living in constant disobedience. Being single was still difficult for me, but not unbearable. Then, I met someone, and it only took a few months before I stopped focusing on what God wanted for my life and started focusing on making the relationship work, which included being disobedient to God to make my man happy.
In the beginning of my abstinence journey, some people thought I was very brave. Others thought I was crazy and just showing off, so they waited for my downfall. And, I gave it to them. God blessed me to be in a relationship, but the minute I felt that relationship was threatened, and the storm of singleness started raging, I lost my focus. I began to sink back into my old habits, rather than trusting God to heal the relationship or to end the relationship because it was not His best for me. I was drowning!
Then, God said, “Why do you doubt Me?” God has brought me through too much for me to lack faith in Him. He has also shown me how much better my live if when I live in obedience to His Word. It does not matter what the people around me say or think. My sole focus has to be on God, not others.
If we desire to be in a relationship, God is not trying to keep us out of one. However, if we let that relationship come before God and if we start trusting in a man or a woman over God, God will not be pleased. As we sink, it will start to feel as if He is further and further away from us, but He has not moved. It is our focus that has shifted and caused the distance.
The best part of the story is that Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Peter. He said, “You of little faith.” This indicated that Peter had some faith. And, if we can just have a little faith, even after we start sinking, God will not let us drown. He will catch us, correct us, and come closer to us as we draw nigh to Him. If being single is not what you desire for your life, it can be difficult. So, whether you are in a bad place or you finally feel safe, keep your focus on God.
Thank You, God for always catching me before
I drown due to my own lack faith.
Please forgive me for being disobedient and losing focus.
Lord, please help me to never doubt You or Your love for me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Twelve
Looking Around
Scripture: Psalms 37:7-11 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret —it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “We need to trust in God or trust in our own eyes; we can’t have it both ways.” |
Here are some examples: you go out with friends, dressed in an appealing, but modest way. Your smile catches the attention of some men, but every time you look around, the men are dancing, flirting, or talking with a girl who is not leaving anything to the imagination. You start to think, “What gives? I am presenting myself in an appropriate way. I am not being overtly sexual, but I am also not a prude. Why don’t I get any attention?”
For the guys, you engage a woman in intelligent conversation. You make her laugh and maybe you even compliment her. But, you see her desperately pursuing a guy who talks down to her and grabs her backside. You start to think, “Is being a respectful guy even worth it? Why do nice guys finish last?”
In all honesty, are these really the people we want in our lives? Hopefully, the answer is no. If not, you may want to take some time and pray about that. God knows what is best for us. I know that it seems like we are doing everything right (although, there is always room for improvement) and remain single. Meanwhile, others are drinking heavily, having casual sex, and just being plain wrong, but they get to be a part of a couple. But the happiness that those who behave wickedly seem to be enjoying is fleeting. The joy of the obedient Christian is eternal.
While it may look like the wicked are prospering and the wise are suffering, consider that there would be far worse suffering if we chose the path of the wicked over patiently waiting on God. Do not get caught up in looking around at other people. Be content with what God has given you in this moment, knowing that He cares for you and knows what is best for you. It matters not whether those behaving badly are happy. That is between them and God. What truly matters is that we trust God enough to believe in His promises for our lives and not to focus on others.
Thank You, God for being faithful and trustworthy.
Please forgive me for being envious of what others have
especially when they are not living in obedience to You.
Lord, please help me to be still, steadfast and content
knowing that You know what is best for me and when to add it to my life.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Nine
A Time of Blessing or a Time of Testing?
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “I want other [singles] to learn that if they will just talk to You, everything will be alright in Your time.” |
My pastor once said to me, “Life has ebbs and flows and you can begin to enjoy it as soon as you learn to ride the waves.” In order to have peace in our lives, we have to understand that God has a purpose in every season. This season of singleness is not the result of God loving you any less than He loves those whom He has allowed to get married. Singleness can be seen as a time of blessing or a time of testing. The results of this time when we belong to God and God alone will be beautiful.
Being single gives us the opportunity to get to know ourselves and our God more intimately. It is a blessing that allows us to pursue dreams that may not be possible if we had the concerns that come along with having a family. During my time of singleness, I have had the opportunity to see different places in the world. I studied abroad and visited London, Paris, Madrid, and Milan. I have discovered places that I love to visit here in the U.S., like Providence, Rhode Island and Savannah, Georgia. I am not saying that it would not have happened if I had a family. But, there was beauty in being free to discover what the world has to offer.
Being single gives God the opportunity to uncover the places in our lives that we still need to work on before we are in a committed relationship. Singleness is a place where God can test our commitment to Him. He can find out if our focus on Him is because He is the center of our joy or if it is because we have not other options. I have failed this test several times. God allows someone in my life as a romantic interest and before I know it, I have forgotten about all of the promises I made to Him. The fantastic thing about God as a teacher is that He allows retakes on His tests and they are always open book. There is beauty in fixing our flaws before we enter into a relationship with another person.
No matter whether we see singleness as a time of blessing or a time of testing or both, God makes it beautiful. If we take a moment to stop complaining or lusting after things that are not meant for us in this season, we can become content with the plan that God has for us right now. He hears your thoughts and prayers and He knows the desires of your heart. God wants you to experience the most beautiful version of your dreams that is possible, and He will make it so in His time.
Thank You, God for being in control of time
and every season of my life.
Please forgive me for being impatient as You make
everything in my life beautiful.
Lord, please help me to humbly accept
everything You are trying to show me in this season.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Seven
It Ain’t Easy
Scripture: Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “It’s hard enough to be pure and holy when you are alone, but once you meet your hunter, it’s even harder.” |
Now, I am not what anyone would consider an athlete; I played three years of sub-par volleyball in eighth through tenth grade and I did win the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in sixth grade, but that is the extent of my athletic ability. When I watch track stars, or any other athlete for that matter, I cannot imagine the level of training that they go through to win races on the national and international levels. So, when she says that it is difficult, but staying pure is even more difficult, you know that staying a virgin is not easy.
Many people wanted to chalk Lolo’s virginity up to some training ritual, but she very clearly stated that she does not intend to have sex before marriage because of her relationship with Christ. Now, people want her and Tim Tebow, the world’s most famous virgin, to date. I am not really interested in Lolo’s potential love life with Timmy, but her love life with Jesus is inspiring.
Lolo Jones is right. Staying pure is complicated. It is complicated if you have never had sex. It is complicated when you are in a relationship. It is especially complicated if you have had sex and are trying to live obediently. God is not a cruel god. He is not trying to keep something wonderful and magical from us, but He wants us to enjoy it as married people. God knows the complexities of having a sexual relationship with someone. Those complexities are best handled by people who have committed themselves to each other through marriage. Lolo and Tim get that. It took me a long time, and several slip-ups, but I get it, too.
To know that you are being obedient to God and showing Him that you love Him more than any person on this earth makes purity more precious than an Olympic gold medal or a Superbowl ring. You might not feel like you are capable of living according to God’s Will as it applies to sexual intimacy, but God is able to help you through it. It is one of many narrow doors of Christianity, but the benefits of obedience far outweigh the momentary pleasure of disobedience. No one said it is easy, but it is totally worth it!
NOTE: I wrote this several weeks ago and it just so happens that it is getting posted as the Olympics are wrapping up. Tell me that's not God's timing. Lolo didn't take the medal stand, but I am confident that God has a bigger prize for her than silver, gold or bronze!
Thank You, God for giving me the opportunity to show
You how much I love you by keeping my body pure.
Please forgive me for the times when I have not lived according to Your Will.
Lord, please help me to be strong enough to refrain from sex until marriage.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Four
Free from Concern
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:32-34 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs —how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “Being single gives us a unique opportunity to grow closer to God.” |
As Paul put it, the best perk of singleness is freedom from concern. Sure, my ice cream habit stems from a certain freedom from concern about someone judging me for how I choose to consume my food. However, there is a deeper freedom from concern that singleness offers. Married couples, I know because I once was part of one, have to be concerned about each other’s pleasure. In fact, I would offer that most marriages break up because of a lack of concern for pleasing one’s mate. Think about it. Infidelity, financial problems, and “growing apart” all stem from a certain level of selfishness that really should not be present in a marriage, especially a marriage between two saved, sanctified, Spirit-filled people.
Singleness offers the opportunity not necessarily for selfishness, but for a single-minded focus on living a life that is pleasing to God without concern for what another person might think or say, or, how another person might react. Neither married people nor single people are excluded from keeping focus on God. Nevertheless, Paul recognizes that married couples have to split their focus. Single Christians can be interested in God’s voice alone. The only One you have to discuss a major life decision with is God. The only One who you have to listen to is God. The only One you have to honor is God. Your total devotion and attention can be dedicated to God without any concern for a family. Of course, I know that this does not apply to every single person because some people have children. Single parents also have split focus, but I truly cannot speak to that issue as the only thing I have been charged with raising is a very precocious cat.
In any case, every Christian’s first focus should be on God. As a single Christian, that focus on God can be our only focus. We can be free from concern, free to move, free to do, free to dream as God pleases.
Thank You, Lord for the blessings of singleness.
Please forgive me for complaining about my singleness
when it is an opportunity to grow closer to You.
Lord, please lead me and guide me on a path that pleases You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You're Prey Weekly Devotions
I pray that this 52-week devotional honors Him and blesses you. Enjoy!
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Pray While You're Prey Weekly Devotions by Toni L. Wortherly is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.