living single as a christian

[brenda mosley]

how d u hold on living single as a christian

[Rev. Vanessa G. Oncken]

First, I believe we need to be honest with ourselves. We have feelings and emotions, we are tried and tempted. But guess what? Christ was tempted as were are...he felt every feeling, every nuance, every urge. He felt and was touched by the temptation...He just didn't succumb to the temptation-He didn't sin (see Hebrews 4:15) He yielded Himself to the Father. He purposed Himself to yield to the will of God. I have struggled with this, as a single woman, as an unfulfilled married woman, and now as a divorced woman. If our desire is to Jesus Christ, if we only want the will of the Father done in our lives, if , even when we fall, we repent and purpose to do according to Romans 12:1-2 to present our bodies a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world (none of this "excuse me a minute, Lord") but being transformed by the renewing of your mind (YOU have to renew YOUR mind! The power of God is there...USE IT!), that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The Lord promised to give us the desires of our hearts...make this one of them.
Let me also say, as a woman, my job is not to find a husband, my job is to prepare for the husband God has for me. I prepare for him by being the best wife to Christ I can ever be! After all, He is the best husband I could ever hope to have!

I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me - Phil 4:13

[Prophet Dedric Hubbard]

You must remember that being single is a state of mind and not a state of being. God gave me an acroynm for single which i used for a singles conference. Successful In Not Getting Low Expectations which mean everytime you depend on anyone for emotional, sexual and monetary support other than God you are saying God can't provide for me...........

[Evangelist Valerie Miller]

Being kept by God is also a state of mind Paul said that what ever state I find myself in he learned to be content. He learned how to conquer that situation and be the best that he can be in that situation...... and we are also can doers .....

[HOPE - Psalm 43:5]

You know.. for some the major problem or temptation when single is sex. But for others.. their main issue is just being by themselves... alone. Some people just hate being alone. There is nothing super spiritual about it, they just want someone to hang out with... movies, dinner, concerts, etc. And sex is just not that big a temptation for them.

One of the things I've come to recognize is that being alone really isn't all that bad. The loneliness can be bothersome but being alone... well it is a season to actually cherish.

You see, once you get married its a whole other ball game. You can't just up and leave whenever you want and just up and go wherever you want. You are now in a relationship with someone who is in the same house with you. You must show them respect for thier position as your spouse.

We forget that this even applies when you are in ministry. Let's say, Brenda, that you are a minister and have your own ministry and are use to just accepting any and every request to speak or teach or minister to someone at any given moment. Could you do that when married? Or would you have to now coordinate schedules, take care of your spouses needs, etc.

I'm not downing marriage but I'm am saying EMBRACE your singleness while you are single. The Apostle Paul taught this as well. (I Cor 7:33-34) Your attention is divided... pleasing both God and your spouse (not necesarrily equally but you can't just run off and do ministry and totatlly forget about your spouse).

Another thing singles do is that marriage becomes an "idol" of sorts. They have such a strong desire for it that it becomes the thing that they meditate on day and night. They look at what they can get OUT of marriage vs what they can put INTO it. They look at the "legal sex", the "companionship" - waking up next to someone every morning, the status - they can now say "I'm married" or now have someone to introduce as husband or wife

Sis, fantasy is what people want but reality is what they need.

The grass isn't necessarily greener on the marriage side, it isn't worse either. It's just different.

Enjoy and Embrace your singleness.

The one thing that I somewhat disagree with is when women set their affections on preparing themselves for a husband. They become tunnel-visioned and forget to set their affections on things ABOVE... they forget to prepare themselves as the Bride of Christ! We get it twisted sometimes. If you prepare yourself with a spirit of excellence towards Christ you will be priceless to a man as his wife. But if your main focus is on getting married then once that man does come you are going to suck the life out of him... you may latch onto him like a leech and he will become a little "god" in your life on the altar of marriage.

Enjoy and Embrace your singleness
Set your affections on what you can do for the Lord in ministry and in just everyday life. Be excellent in just being a woman of God and for the men... be excellent in just being a man of God.

OMG and please PLEASE PLEASE be careful of those well-meaning persons who will prophesy a mate to you! Everybody "ain't got a word". I've known people to get a prophetic word and the next person who smiles at them they believe is their mate. So desperate to be married that they accept anyone who pays them some attention and finds themself in a hell of a marriage expecting God to co-sign on THIER plans to marry that person!

In due season dear... it could be that you may not be ready yet OR that the person whom you will marry isn't ready yet.

Enjoy and Embrace being single... it's WONDERFUL!!!