Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Twenty Two Never-ending Conversation Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 …pray continually Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “I had many talks with God. I am a pray-without-ceasing kind of girl. I came to understand what that meant during this particular time in my life.” At some point in my life, I realized that what I deemed to be me just talking to myself was not me talking to myself at all. It was prayer. Prior to this point, I felt that in order to pray, I had to get on my knees, bow my head, and close my eyes. Or, I felt I had to lay prostrate before Him to get His attention. But, as my pastor often says prayer is not about a position. Whether I am driving in my car, sitting in my classroom, on my couch in my living, in the mall, in church, in bed, it does not matter, I can pray all of the time. And, thank God for that! When the Bible says to pray without ceasing, I used to think that it was impossible. Then, I got in touch with my inner dialogue and I discovered that the things I was saying, thinking, and asking were not things for which I had answers. The only One who could calm my innermost fears or answer my deeply thought-out questions was God Himself. So, I realized that prayer is a conversation. It is the constant conversation that I have with Christ. It is the time when I stop to praise Him for the sunshine that pokes through on a rainy day. It is the time when I am taken aback by the fact that He loves me and I did nothing to deserve it. It is the time when my mind wanders into place it has no business going and I ask for forgiveness. It is the times when I have questions and I ask the all-knowing Father. God asks us to pray continually because He wants to be present in every part of our lives; not just the parts where it is convenient to get on our knees or bow our heads. He wants to be there for us in the huge events that drive us to our knees and in the everyday, mundane, blessed boring times of life. God wants to be the center of our focus, so that He can guide us in the direction on the blessings that He has already bestowed upon us. I often say, “Jesus saves…and I don’t mean just salvation; He saves a lot of people from the me that I would be.” Without constant communication between God and I, there is no telling how many more mistakes I would have made in my life. I have already made plenty trying to be a big girl and do things on my own. There were many times when I refused to talk to God about something because I didn’t want to know His answer. It is the same way we pick and choose which friends to go to for advice. It seems more comforting to hear what we want to hear, but in communication with God, He wants us to hear what we need to hear. In the single season, depending on how social a creature one is, there is a lot of time spent alone. That time can be dark and depressing or it can be peaceful and productive. One way to enjoy the “me” time that God has blessed us with is to communicate with Him and to listen to find out what the best use of our time will be. How can we be vessels for God in this season? How can we allow Him alone to be our comfort and our all? God will answer these questions and many others, but we have to talk to Him. We must have a never-ending conversation. Prayer Thank You, God for being a God who will allow me to speak to Him and will answer me when I have questions. Please forgive me for seeking to communicate with others before I seek You. Lord, please help me to listen and never be afraid to come to You with praises, confessions and concerns. 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
Week Twenty One At War Scripture: Galatians 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “the Bible says, we will have battles between the Spirit and our flesh constantly.” There is a Cherokee legend called two wolves that says: An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." As Christians, we can apply this principle to the spirit and the flesh. The Bible warns us that they will constantly be in conflict. The spirit wants to live in obedience and the joy of salvation; the flesh wants to live in opulence and the justification of sin. The battle is not always over something huge like whether to pray or to party or whether to shout to the Lord or give a shout out to your favorite booty call. Some battles take place deep within and are more subtle. For example, I often experience the battle for peace of mind. The spirit wants to be content with what I have. The spirit knows that God is in control and that He has a plan for me. The flesh wants to focus on what I do not have, and sometimes, what others have. The flesh wants me to feel that God has abandoned me; that He has left me alone. When these battles rage on, I often end up in tears. The tears are expressions of pain for the fact that I have allowed so much nonsense to enter into my flesh, through my eyes and my ears, that it sometimes feel like the flesh is just kicking the mess out of my spirit. I get upset because I know that I read enough, and pray enough to know that the devil is a liar and God is on the throne. Still, when it comes to the singleness, the childlessness, the loneliness, I oftentimes let the flesh get the upper hand. So, what is the solution? The solution is to seek God’s face and rely on the Holy Spirit to give comfort as promised. The solution is to focus on the promises kept by God and the promises to be kept by God rather than focus on the plight of singleness. As the story suggests, the solution is to feed the spirit and to starve the flesh. Prayer Thank You, God for the promise that You alone are God Please forgive me for feeding my flesh more than my spirit. Lord, please help me to focus on your faithfulness and allow my spirit to win the battles and the war. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Twenty How do I Know I am Saved? Scripture: John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “I am not saying that I am never lonely, but I know that the world could be devoid of all human life, except me and God would still be here with me.” I think some people might expect to see fireworks. You know, you walk down the aisle, you pray, you confess, you ask Jesus into your life and then, you feel changed, but you don’t really see any physical manifestation of salvation. So, how do you know you are saved? I used to struggle this question. I knew that I had confessed God, but because of my sinful nature and my humanness, I wondered if I was really saved. “Am I really saved?” is not the kind of question that you feel comfortable asking anybody, but God. Of course, I have had many people ask me how I know I am saved. And, for a long time, I was unsure of how to answer the question. But, as I got older and I got into a more intimate relationship with Christ, I realized that there were things that I just could not do or say anymore. I am not referring to what many people say is your conscience. I realized that there were times when the words that came out of my mouth were not my own. It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in me that caused this dramatic change. It was not an all-of-a-sudden, glitter falls from the sky, and I start glowing kind of change that people could see. As a matter of fact, I am not sure if anyone else noticed. Nonetheless, over time I felt more free to be who God wants me to be regardless of what anyone else thinks about it. That is what it feels like to be saved. That is what the indwelling of the Holy Spirit feels like. And, the Holy Spirit only resides in you if you are saved. So, why I am talking about this in devotions about being single? Because nothing that I say will ever help you if the first relationship in your life is not intact. Sure, there are plenty of unsaved people in happy relationships. If I wanted to right now, I could go find someone to be happy with, but that is not good enough for me. I want the kind of relationship that God has set aside for His children. And, in order to have that, I must first be fulfilled by a relationship with Christ, so that I am not putting unreasonable expectations on my future mate. If you can still do the sinful things that you have always done and it never bothers you; you might want to check your salvation. If you can still go to the same places you know you have no business going to and it does not bother you; you should probably check your salvation. If you can hear people talk about God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit disrespectfully and it does not bother you, you might want to check your salvation. We are not perfect. Notice I said, “it does not bother you.” Sometimes, we will make mistakes and fall back into old behaviors, but it should grieve our spirit. If it does not, we may need to have a reality check about whether or not the Holy Spirit really resides there. Our dedication to our relationship with God, our first love, will determine how well our relationships work with other like-minded saints of God. And, an added bonus of salvation is knowing that no matter what your relationship status is, you can know that you are NEVER alone! Prayer Thank You, God for the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Please forgive me for all of the times when I do not listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Lord, please help me understand that I will not lose my salvation, but I can lose my joy when I am not obedient to Your leading. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Nineteen The Inside Scoop Scripture: Psalm 25:14 The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “Fear of God is the key to His secrets. I do not speak of fear in the sense of being scared, but in the sense of reverence and respect.” I have made so many mistakes in judgment when it comes to character that one day I said, “Okay, God, I need You to put a force field around me, so that no one who is not good for me can get to me. And then, when the right one comes along, I need You to put a big, bright, neon sign (like “Eat at Joe’s”) over his head. I had lost faith in my ability to make right decisions. That lack of confidence in my relationship decisions spilled over into every other decision in my life. I discovered that this was one insecurity that was actually a good thing. In the beginning, my disdain for the prospect of making bad decisions was paralyzing. I literally was not willing to make any moves because I feared that I might make the wrong move and end up headed in the wrong direction and knocking myself further off-course. However, eventually, I realized that I had someone better to trust than myself: God. My miscues led me to put all of my trust in Him. And, not just in the major things like jobs, relationships, money; in EVERYTHING. I fear the Lord. I am not scared of God (although, I am glad to be living in the age of grace--have you read the Old Testament?); I reverence God. I respect God. I have learned that God knows what is best for me and that He has a future plan for me and a right now plan for me that will work out for my good if I will listen to Him and obey His voice. I have been blessed with several gifts to use for ministering to others, but for a very long time, I struggled with how to properly use God’s gifts and talents. Every time, I have tried to do something my way, it has not turned out well. So, then, I just stopped trying, but that was not the correct answer either. Earlier this year, I felt a nudge to record, but I had no idea what the purpose of my recording would be. I agonized over what to do with the music that I had. I was not sure if I needed to do an entire CD, or just a demo. I didn’t know if I should try to sell my work or give it away. Taking a step forward just brought about so many questions. Admittedly, for a little while, I was discouraged because I felt like God was not showing me what to do. Then, I read a devotion that encouraged me to spend some quiet time with God; not talking, not singing, not making a sound, just listening. This was very difficult at first because my mind is always racing. I know God knows that, but each day, as I endeavored to respect Him by giving Him quiet time, it became easier and easier to quiet my mind. And soon, His voice began to drown out mine. And, after one month of asking what I should do, it became clear. There are still a few details that I am sure God will give me in the right time, but I know the answer to my main question. I have to believe that as I continue to show reverence for God, whether in quiet time or by simply being obedient to His leading, He will reveal anything that I need to know to me. That is the beauty of the God we serve. Anything that He is not showing us, He is holding back for a good reason. That gives me hope as I wait for my spouse to come into my life. I am not being obedient to get answers or to get what I want. If that were the case, I would have stopped being obedient when I felt God was saying ‘no’ and ‘wait’ too much. I am being obedient because I respectfully fear the Lord and His greatness. I know that He is stronger and wiser than I will ever comprehend. So, I will wait patiently for His secrets to my life to be revealed. Prayer Thank You, God for loving me enough to not give me any information that I will misuse. Please forgive me for not being respectful to You in my actions and in the way I divide up my time. Lord, please help me to listen, move when necessary and be still when necessary. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. 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.” It is amazing how our thoughts can hold us captive when we are instructed to take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). On more than one occasion, I have found myself mindlessly watching television and everything that happens on any show I immediately relate back to the situation with which I am struggling. Usually, that situation is singleness. I find myself daydreaming about my future family. In times when everything is quiet, I think about how much I yearn for a loving husband and children of my own. 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. Prayer 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 *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Seventeen The Green-Eyed Monster Scripture: Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “We shouldn’t even think about what God has given someone else other than to thank Him for blessing that person. And if the person is not of God, we really shouldn’t care about her earthly possessions because our reward is in Heaven.” This story is in the book, Pray While You’re Prey, but it bears repeating. So, there I was minding my own business in the lounge at my law school, when a classmate and so-called friend of mine burst in the room in a huff. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “I hate you,” she replied. I thought for sure that she was kidding, but she wasn’t. She began to berate me for having a husband, good grades and an active social life. She admitted, on more than one occasion, that she was jealous of me. If there was ever a clear depiction of exactly what the Bible tells us not to do in Exodus 20:17, this was it. Most of us aren’t as bold as this sister because we envy in secret. Now, before we go on getting all holier-than-thou about this sister’s attitude, we need to check ourselves. There have been MANY times when I have felt the same way, but just didn’t say it. What she didn’t know and later came to realize was that my marriage was failing and studying and having a social life were an escape for me. I learned a couple of things from this situation, though. First, jealousy often blinds us to the truth. Second, it’s called the green-eyed monster because a monster is exactly what envy turns us into. For me, the root of my jealousy is not that I am unhappy for the person who is being blessed. I find myself truly giddy when others are experiencing joyful circumstances. I am jealous because I do not know when or how my blessing will come to pass. I get jealous because it seems that everything is going so well for other people, and I am trying to live the right kind of life, yet not getting the desires of my heart. So, I really do not have a problem with the other person. I, dare I say it, have a problem with God. And, once we enter into the state where we think we know better than God, the devil has us right where he wants us. We start to see things that aren’t there like my friend saw with my “happy” marriage. (In her defense, I am one heck of an actress, so we did appear to be deliriously happy even when the complete opposite was true). In any case, the root of jealousy starts with the mentality that we deserve something or that God owes us something in our lives and we mistakenly feel that He has given it to someone else. And, if you have ever seen four-year-olds on a playground, you know how nasty things can get when a person feels that someone else has what should be hers. Here comes the monster! So, how do we fix this problem? First, stop looking around. Stop fixating on what others have. I mean, this was one of the original Ten for a reason. Second, stop looking down. We must stop looking down on others when they are blessed and stop looking down on ourselves when we do not get what we want when we want it. Finally, start looking up. Look to God for peace and patience, not possessions. He has already given us more than we deserve and He owes us nothing. Yet, He is still merciful and gracious and will provide our every need. We either believe that or we don’t. So, if we know that God will provide our every need, there is no reason to be jealous of anyone else. I have had people jealous of me (at least they were according to my mom) and I have been the jealous one. The only One with a right to be jealous is God because He is the only One who has invested enough in us to have our full, undivided attention. The green-eyed monster needs to go away for good; it is not a good look for anyone, but especially for a Christian. Prayer Thank You, God for providing all of my needs according to Your riches in glory. Please forgive me for being jealous of what others have. Lord, please help me to stay in my lane and focus on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Sixteen The Art of Giving Scripture: Proverbs 18:16 A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “Be a gift in his life, not a burden.” What is the purpose of being in a relationship? God concluded very early on that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2), so He made a helpmeet for Adam. Since then, we have been surrounded by relationships of all kinds: spouses, significant others, children, siblings, friends, and co-workers. Our lives are generally filled with all types of relationships. So, what is our purpose in being in a relationship? When I first looked at Proverbs 18:16, I was thinking about how I could prepare myself to be a great mate for someone. I needed to work on my control issues and my neediness. I wanted to be a gift to someone, and not a burden. This principle can apply to all of the relationships in our lives, including the most important one--the relationship with Christ. When we give the gifts of love and friendship freely, we not only add to the lives of those to whom we are giving, but we add to our own lives as well. There is no greater feeling that giving to meet the needs in someone else’s life. Not giving because of what you will receive in return or because of a sense of obligation, but freely giving your time, talents and treasures to be a blessing to someone else. When I am having a bad day, even if I do not always feel like it, I try to think of something that I can do for someone else. I am not trying to score brownie points with God. But, if I can be a blessing in someone else’s life, it takes my focus off of problems and points me towards praise. Oftentimes, that is how I end up writing. I might be struggling with a situation, but if I can write something to inspire someone else and draw that person nearer to God, I start to feel ushered into the presence of the great. One of our functions in any relationship is to be a gift. Even while we are single, we can be a gift to our families and friends. No one wants to continue a relationship with someone who is constantly bringing them down. I want someone to come into my life that will add to it. When people ask me about how I feel about being single and waiting for the right person, I let them know, “I have the cake; I am waiting for the icing!” As a matter of fact, God has used this season in my life to prune and mature me so much that sometimes I feel like I have the cake and the icing and I am just waiting for my ice cream. Sometimes, we approach relationships with a selfish agenda. It is all about what we can get rather than what we can give. I believe selfishness is at the center of every failed relationship. Right now is the time to ask God to use what He has already blessed you with to help others and to work on those parts of you that may cause someone else to feel burdened. If we focus more on being a gift, rather than receiving gifts, not only will we find our relationships are more fulfilling, we will find our lives to be more fulfilling. Prayer Thank You, God for every resource that You have given me, so that I can be a gift to others. Please forgive me for putting so much emphasis on what others can do for me and not using Your gifts properly. Lord, please help me to see the needs of others that I can fulfill and to live unselfishly in my relationships. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Fifteen God is NOT a Genie Scripture: Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “I have no problem asking God for what I want because His word says that I can. If there is something he doesn’t want to give me, He will say ‘no.’” If you found a lamp, rubbed it, and a genie popped out saying, “I will grant you three wishes,” what would you wish for? Many people answer that question with, “more wishes!” Some people would wish for money, some would wish for fame, some, especially if they are reading this, might wish for a loving spouse. I would love to be all holier-than-thou and say that I would wish for world peace or something selfless, but I know me better than that. It is okay to fantasize about what you would wish for with your magical wishes; however, too many of us treat God like He is a genie. We treat him as if He is responsible for giving us our every desire. All we have to do it name it and claim it or blab it and grab it. God is NOT a genie. Yes, God wants us to come to Him with our every desire. But, God also wants us to be so in tune with Him that His desires for our lives become our desires. A genie lives in a bottle. He is summoned out when someone rubs the lamp, and then, he grants the wishes and goes back to the lamp. Can you imagine what this world would be like if God was limited to only acting upon our selfish whims? I do not even want to think about it. What if God was confined to a small lamp? The God I serve is way too big for that! Still, we read verses like Mark 11:24 and misinterpret it to mean that we can just make our three wishes, believe with all of our hearts, God will say the magic words and then our desire will appear. That is not how it works. If that were the case, yours truly would not be single and childless. We can absolutely ask God for whatever we desire, but we need to understand that if it is not in His Will, He will say “no.” When Jesus asked God to spare Him from the crucifixion, God said, “no.” Notice what Jesus prayed, though, He said, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thy will be done.” That is the part we forget. We ask God for a myriad of people, places and things to come into our lives, but we give no thought to the fact that God wants us to live our best life; the life that will bring Him glory. Ask, seek, and knock; the Word of God says you can. Just be sure that you are asking for more of God, seeking His face and knocking on doors of opportunity to be more like Him. Then, you will have everything you desire and even more than you could ever imagine. Prayer Thank You, God for hearing my prayers of supplication. Please forgive me for being selfish when I make requests to You. Lord, please help me to know the desires You have for my life and to request that which will draw me closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Fourteen Then I Saw A Rainbow Scripture: Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “Don’t ever miss out on your blessings worrying about what someone else has. You have too much to be grateful for. If a blessing is meant for you, you will have it when God is ready to give it to you.” Some days are better than others. I thank God that I can go for weeks, sometimes months without feeling lonely. But, occasionally, it happens. Usually, when other circumstances in my life are not going the way I want them to go, I start lamenting that I would not even care about these other circumstances if I had a relationship. If I had a relationship, then I would have the support I need to pursue my dreams. Maybe, if I had a relationship, I would not even have the same dreams and none of it would matter. One morning on the way to church, which is usually when the devil tries to get all up in my ear, I was just feeling down. Though I know it is not true, I felt like no one really cared about me. I tried to listen to music and sing, which almost always makes me feel better, but it didn’t work. This was just going to be one of those funky days. I would get to church, plaster a fake smile on my face, worship, and then, go home and feel sorry for myself. In the midst of my pity party, I felt a prompting to look in the rearview mirror, and then, I saw a rainbow. Rainbows are a symbol of God’s covenant that He would never flood the Earth again; they are also a sign to me that God is sovereign and has everything under control, even when the flood waters of life start to rise. Immediately, I felt better. I knew that I did not have to worry about anything that was going on in my life. God has everything under control. Not only does He have everything under control, but He knows what He is doing. He knows what we need and when we need it. So, we can make ourselves miserable by looking around at what other people have or we can praise God for what we have. Anything, any blessing under the sun that is meant for me, will be mine in God’s appointed time. The same goes for you. Yet, we waste so much time and energy doubting that God has our best interests in mind. God is with us all the time. He will give us the strength we need to get through the tough times. And, when we can no longer carry the weight, He will hold us up. He will carry us and help us. There is no need to worry or fear or be dismayed, if God is your God. Will we feel down sometimes? Absolutely; just don’t stay down. Think of the rainbow, God’s promise that He is in control. Then, pick yourself up and enjoy living the life that He has given you. Prayer Thank You, God for being in complete control over my life and every circumstance. Please forgive me for worrying when things don’t go my way. Lord, please help me to see the rainbow, the promise of your power, in every situation in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. 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.” Peter is by far my favorite disciple. He is so fiery and ready to fight for what he believes in, even when he is wrong. Peter is passionate. You can tell he loved Jesus sincerely, even after he denied knowing Christ, his disappointment in himself shows that he was truly brokenhearted that he had not stood up for his Savior, his Friend. 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. Prayer 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 *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. |
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