Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
What is the point of knowing love and showing love without a true and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ? When I first published Pray While You’re Prey, I sent a copy to a friend of mine. She wrote me back that she thought the book was good even for non-Christians. The conversation was one I will never forget because that was the day that I found out that a young woman who had been like a sister to me had “fallen in love” with someone who convinced her that Jesus was not who the Bible says He is. She no longer believed in the very Person that had caused us to have an almost decade-long bond. I was crushed and devastated because that was the beginning of the loss of that friendship, but not only that, I could not understand how anyone who claims to love a person could lead them away from the love of God. I did not write a book to tell people how to date and have good relationships. The book and this devotion series are not some sort of how-to manual for finding a mate. If anyone believes that, he or she has completely missed the point. These are testimonies of how God has shown me, in times of obedience and disobedience, that He is God. This is about how no love surpasses His love because He is love. This is about dealing with our human emotions in a Godly manner that results in the uplifting of the Kingdom. I hope that people who are unsaved read this book and devotion series, but not like they would read “The Rules,” or “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” or “He’s Just Not That into You,” or any other dating/relationship advice book. This book and devotion series is about handling our lives on Earth and our interactions with people of the opposite sex in a way that is pleasing to God. It is about recognizing that no matter what your relationship status happens to be, loving God should be your first priority. This time that we have right now on Earth may be filled with love of family, friends, and even, a significant other or spouse. But, the love of another human being pales in comparison to love that those who confess Christ as their Savior, the one and only Son of God will receive forever and ever. There is no other relationship that will help us to stand blameless before God on the Day of Judgment than a relationship where God can see us through the blood of Christ. That relationship is the important one. Any other relationship, as long as it is a Godly one, is fine, but we cannot forget what our life is all about. The purpose for our lives is the praise and to please God; to live holy and righteously as a testimony to those who may never read a Bible, but will read our lives. We must set an example of how to love one another and keep God as our first love. This is the ultimate courtship. What we do with the time God gives us on Earth shows Him and those who observe us just how real He is in our lives and how much we love Him. We need to pray that we make the most of our relationship with God, and, if it is His will for us to find or be found by a spouse, that we love that person the way God loves us. Because, there will come a day when the courtship will end and the Church, the Bride of Christ, will be with Him forever. And, I cannot speak for anyone else, but I want the end result of my earthly life to be the beginning of my eternal life as a servant with whom God was pleased. Prayer Thank You, God for promising to love us forever. Please forgive me for living as if the things of this world are all that matter. Lord, please help me to always love You first regardless what my relationship status happens to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated.
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Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
There are times when I find myself trying to figure God out. I find myself trying to make sense of what is happening in my life and trying to guess God’s next move. It is all really very silly. God has ways and thoughts that are so much higher than anything that we could ever conceive (Isaiah 55). I think to myself that if I do the right things and say the right things, then there should be certain outcomes. However, my focus is all wrong. In order to understand my life and to understand my purpose, I cannot look at what I do or say or think. I have to look at who God is and what He does for me. In the context of singleness, I have spent many years trying to figure out the right clothes to wear, the right words to say, the proper ways to flirt, so as to not upset the Father. I have tried to stay away from certain places so I do not embarrass the Father. I have tried to sing, praise and give to impress the Father. Sometimes, I do all of this, in an effort to get a mate, not to discover who God is and what He means to me. In doing so, I tell God that He is not enough for me. When I start to believe that I am who I am because of what I do, I am leaving God out of the equation. And, I know that I am not the only person who knows for a fact that there would be no me without Him. In the season of singleness, there is an opportunity for self discovery. There is a chance to understand who we are, not as a spouse or parent, not defined by our career or ministry, but defined by what God is and what He does for us. Use this time to discover, to understand to unravel, the beauty created in you by God’s grace, His mercy, His love and His favor. Allow that to satisfy your soul. Lonely times will come, but if you understand who you are in Christ, you can make it to the other side. Know that God is sovereign and He has a plan for you that is not defined by what you do for Him, but what He does for you! Prayer Thank You, God for being sovereign and for having a plan for my life. Please forgive me for trying to understand myself outside of who You are and what You have done for me. Lord, please help me to trust that You always know what is best and that my purpose is found in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated.
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Pray While You're Prey Weekly DevotionsI pray that this 52-week devotional honors Him and blesses you. Enjoy! Archives
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