February 2016

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.” Song of Songs 8:4 NLT

Sometimes it seems as though the women in my family are more preoccupied with my marital status than they are my purposes in life.

It’s as if I blew out the candles on my 23rd birthday and they all wished simultaneously that a husband would be mine, and soon. Though most were only joking, it was something that came up quite often and still does to this day.

“So Amber, have you met anyone?”
“You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe there’s NO ONE interested in you!”
“Have you talked to (insert boy’s name here)? I really liked him for you.”

After a while their thoughts became my thoughts and it crippled me. I didn’t dare think of buying a new bed, or even imagine owning a home let alone a new car if I didn’t have a husband first.
All of those things were reserved for a young lady my age who had already walked down the aisle, holding on to her father’s arm poised and absolutely beautiful. She glowed beneath her veil as she walked towards the man who would take care of her and she him and they would bask in the glow of all the things that I couldn’t have because I wasn’t married yet.

As silly as it sounds that’s exactly how I felt. Then I came across this wonderful verse that encouraged me “not to awaken love until the time is right.” Song of Songs 8:4 NLT

God has a specific blueprint for our lives and has tasked us with relying on Him to get everything built in His time, not ours.

I had begun to awaken the idea of loving another person simply because of the things and status that it would bring me and the social acceptance of my family and friends whom were already married or in courtships. I had forgotten about the divine blueprint that God has already laid out for my life and is excited to show me. I had forgotten that being single is not a disadvantage and certainly not a status that requires me to wait on a husband to do certain things, but to trust that God will reveal his purposes and plans for my life in His perfect timing.

I truly believe that we were made for love. God made each and every one of us just so that he could showcase how much He loves us each and every day through His son Jesus Christ. Just imagine if such a powerful feeling transpired between two individuals before it could be understood, truly shared, and rooted in Christ. The disaster that would ensue is probably much worse than anything we could ever imagine.
So I’ve learned to practice loving those in my here and now, cultivating relationships with friends and family that push me even closer to Christ and the beautiful blueprint that He has laid out for me to follow.

Prayer: Abba, I thank you for being the essence of love and showing me how to love on others daily. I thank you that my life has already been planned and that I am able to rest in the assurance of your loving kindness and not awaken love before its time. Help me to patiently await your perfect timing in all aspects of my life, so that you may be glorified. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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