by Marlon on September 3, 2010
Who Do You Believe – What God Says About Marriage or What Media Says?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind and second, to love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37, 39
When the thought popped in my head to propose to Syreeta, asking her to be my wife, I immediately prayed to God for confirmation.
Yes, Syreeta is beautiful. She is smart. She is fun. She is adventurous. She is dedicated. She is loyal. She is sexy. She is creative.
So why not propose? Well, I had never proposed to anyone before. And I took proposing very serious because it leads to marriage “… until death do us part.”
However, I’ve been conditioned to believe what the movies portray of a couple falling in love or what the romantic love songs illustrate in their lyrics. They highlight the fantasy of love.
But what happens when the initial infatuation wears off? How do you keep the spice and passion alive?
God created marriage with Adam and Eve. Marriage is a God idea so it makes sense to learn God’s perspective on what it takes to experience a healthy and loving marriage.
After Syreeta accepted my proposal, we participated in pre-marital counseling sessions at our church. For me, it was an incredible experience because I learned so much about the individual roles of husband and wife. My eyes were open.
One deacon shared that his 30+ year marriage has been blessed because every day, he prays this prayer: “God make this the best day of my wife’s life and use me to make this happen.”
I share this with you because what the romance movies and songs promote do not always tell the entire truth. Yes, there will be romance, passion and excitement. But rest assured, life will present challenges and by having God in the center of your relationship, you and your life-long partner will grow through the turbulent times so your bond is unbreakable.
Do share your insights by posting a comment.
Questions for Reflection:
- How do you define the word, “LOVE”?
- From your perspective, what is the purpose of being engaged?
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by Marlon on August 31, 2010
Would You Date You?
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Luke 6:31
Isn’t it interesting how as we grow up, we all have a vision of our ideal partner? You know what I’m talking about… “She is beautiful, has a great personality and is fun.” “He is intelligent, caring and proactive.”
What are the characteristics of your ideal partner?
The reason I ask is because sometimes we can get caught up in the dating “game” without really having clarity as to what we truly desire in a partner.
Being crystal clear in what you want to experience in a relationship will definitely bless you because you will not waste unnecessary time in dating people who are not a “match” for you.
So give yourself the gift of writing the characteristics of your ideal partner. Do it now. Why wait?
After you’ve written you list, review and put an asterisk by each characteristic that represents an “absolute” for you. This means that these characteristics are non-negotiable.
I did this exact same thing and it allowed me to be more focused and intentional in what characteristics I was looking for in a partner.
But I also did one more step… I turned it over to God. I made a commitment to God that I will follow His Word and so I made a promise to be celibate and to tithe.
I had come to the realization that I needed to live my life more in alignment to what the Bible communicates because I had previously dated some wonderful ladies and yet, most of those relationships ultimately ended with hurt, confusion and disappointment.
It was only by turning my life over to God and His Word that my life took on new meaning. When I met Syreeta, my wife-to-be, things were different because I was different. In my heart, I believe God blessed me by bringing Syreeta into my life because of my obedience to honoring His word of being celibate and tithing.
So what are you waiting for? Make the commitment to God and watch how He blesses your life.
Post your comment to this blog. Share your feedback because we appreciate your insights.
Questions for Reflection:
- Do you possess the same characteristics of your ideal partner?
- How will you live a more God-focused life so you experience all that God has for you?
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