Comments on: Does God Promise You a Spouse? http://powertochange.com Sun, 03 Jun 2012 19:04:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: <span class='mentorBadge' title='Jamie is an official Power to Change mentor.' >Jamie</span> http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1448993 Jamie Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:40:36 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1448993 JustAGuy, here is what I know about: He creates out of His love and He loves those He creates. When He creates there is a purpose for what He has created and He is unstoppable in His purposes. God created you out of His love and He absolutely loves you. That precludes any sense of playing cruel games where He has given you a need but no way of means for that need to be met. God has created you for a purpose and there is no one who is able to stop Him from accomplishing His purpose in your life. And when I say that He has a purpose, I am not referring to some grand cosmic purpose but a detailed specific plan for every moment of your life. Paul instructs us that, "we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) "All things" is pretty encompassing and leaves nothing out. So God's purpose for your life is for your good and He will accomplish that purpose. So you do not have to fulfill those needs; God will. Jesus taught, "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing... Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day. Just live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matthew 6:31-33) God knows all of your needs and He will meet all of them. Your job is not to pursue your own needs but to pursue God. I hope this is not coming across as a "Sucks to be you" attitude. I just want to point out that all of our needs are met by God and there isn't a more trustworthy source than Him. Abraham found that. He had received a promise from God that he would become the father of many nations but then years and years passed without any children. So rather than pursuing God and looking to Him to accomplish the promise Abraham and his wife figured they would need to meet the need on their own. They hooked up Abraham with one of Sarah's servants and she bore a son for him. That was obviously not the way that God had planned to meet the need and there was nothing but trouble from that. God did miraculously meet the need when Abraham and Sarah were in 90's and the result turned out far better than anything that Abraham and Sarah could have created on their own. Let me encourage you, you can trust God to meet all your needs. It may not be in your time table but it will be far better than what you could conceive. What you need to do is focus your attention on God and make Him your primary concern. That way, when He shows you the way that He wants you to go you will be ready to follow. If you focus your attention on your needs you will end up going down paths that will be very destructive. Does that make sense? JustAGuy, here is what I know about: He creates out of His love and He loves those He creates. When He creates there is a purpose for what He has created and He is unstoppable in His purposes. God created you out of His love and He absolutely loves you. That precludes any sense of playing cruel games where He has given you a need but no way of means for that need to be met. God has created you for a purpose and there is no one who is able to stop Him from accomplishing His purpose in your life. And when I say that He has a purpose, I am not referring to some grand cosmic purpose but a detailed specific plan for every moment of your life. Paul instructs us that, “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) “All things” is pretty encompassing and leaves nothing out. So God’s purpose for your life is for your good and He will accomplish that purpose.

So you do not have to fulfill those needs; God will. Jesus taught, “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing… Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day. Just live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” (Matthew 6:31-33) God knows all of your needs and He will meet all of them. Your job is not to pursue your own needs but to pursue God.

I hope this is not coming across as a “Sucks to be you” attitude. I just want to point out that all of our needs are met by God and there isn’t a more trustworthy source than Him. Abraham found that. He had received a promise from God that he would become the father of many nations but then years and years passed without any children. So rather than pursuing God and looking to Him to accomplish the promise Abraham and his wife figured they would need to meet the need on their own. They hooked up Abraham with one of Sarah’s servants and she bore a son for him. That was obviously not the way that God had planned to meet the need and there was nothing but trouble from that. God did miraculously meet the need when Abraham and Sarah were in 90′s and the result turned out far better than anything that Abraham and Sarah could have created on their own.

Let me encourage you, you can trust God to meet all your needs. It may not be in your time table but it will be far better than what you could conceive. What you need to do is focus your attention on God and make Him your primary concern. That way, when He shows you the way that He wants you to go you will be ready to follow. If you focus your attention on your needs you will end up going down paths that will be very destructive.

Does that make sense?

]]> By: JustAGuy http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1440799 JustAGuy Thu, 31 May 2012 04:39:24 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1440799 Actually Chris has a point. I would not have this need if God did not allow me to have it. God also made it impossible for a purely spiritual relationship to fulfill this need (it is a NEED or it would fade as all wants eventually do). Furthermore, WE WILL NOT BE MARRYING GOD OR CHRIST. God's design for marriage prevents individual marriages to Christ because half of us are ineligible by virtue of our gender. The marriage is between the church as an entity, not us. So it was never designed to fulfill these God given needs. So how am I to fulfill these needs if all God is interesed in is giving the NEED but not the solution? I am not looking for an excuse to sin, or am I boiling over with anger. I am exhausted with the constant desire I go through, and the calous "Sucks to be you" attitude that I get when I turn to the people who expect me to bear their burdens when they are in need, but call me a loser when I reach out for the same. Please, is there anyone out there with an answer? Actually Chris has a point. I would not have this need if God did not allow me to have it. God also made it impossible for a purely spiritual relationship to fulfill this need (it is a NEED or it would fade as all wants eventually do). Furthermore, WE WILL NOT BE MARRYING GOD OR CHRIST. God’s design for marriage prevents individual marriages to Christ because half of us are ineligible by virtue of our gender. The marriage is between the church as an entity, not us. So it was never designed to fulfill these God given needs. So how am I to fulfill these needs if all God is interesed in is giving the NEED but not the solution?
I am not looking for an excuse to sin, or am I boiling over with anger. I am exhausted with the constant desire I go through, and the calous “Sucks to be you” attitude that I get when I turn to the people who expect me to bear their burdens when they are in need, but call me a loser when I reach out for the same.
Please, is there anyone out there with an answer?

]]> By: Chris http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1435147 Chris Wed, 30 May 2012 11:44:37 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1435147 The Psalm (Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart) is all well and good, but what if what we desire isn't part of God's will? Could there be anything worse than truly trying to make God the priority in our lives and not getting the things we'd really like to have? As I've said, I'm a childfree Christian, and trying to find a woman who doesn't want kids has been incredibly depressing sometimes. The Psalm (Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart) is all well and good, but what if what we desire isn’t part of God’s will? Could there be anything worse than truly trying to make God the priority in our lives and not getting the things we’d really like to have? As I’ve said, I’m a childfree Christian, and trying to find a woman who doesn’t want kids has been incredibly depressing sometimes.

]]> By: Florence http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1428106 Florence Tue, 29 May 2012 11:44:20 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1428106 I made a comment on the topic but had not read the earlier comments. I was forced to read them after Tyrone's message. However, this is what I can say: Let each one seek to understand God through his Word. There are bound to be as many interpretations of the Word as there are people on this planet but take heed! For instance, I do not believe in that theory of not holding God accountable. God can be held accountable for ONLY that which He has promised - In Genesis 28:14 and Genesis 31:3 Jacob remembered God’s promise of safety and prosperity. When Jacob’s safety and prosperity was threatened, Jacob held God accountable to His word through prayer. What is vital is for each one to read the Bible and understand it, of course stay open to learning through fellowship. I made a comment on the topic but had not read the earlier comments. I was forced to read them after Tyrone’s message. However, this is what I can say: Let each one seek to understand God through his Word. There are bound to be as many interpretations of the Word as there are people on this planet but take heed! For instance, I do not believe in that theory of not holding God accountable. God can be held accountable for ONLY that which He has promised – In Genesis 28:14 and Genesis 31:3 Jacob remembered God’s promise of safety and prosperity. When Jacob’s safety and prosperity was threatened, Jacob held God accountable to His word through prayer.

What is vital is for each one to read the Bible and understand it, of course stay open to learning through fellowship.

]]> By: <span class='mentorBadge' title='Joel Pukalo is an official Power to Change mentor.' >Joel Pukalo</span> http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1426665 Joel Pukalo Tue, 29 May 2012 05:48:02 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1426665 Amen Jamie. The devil's only ploy from the beginning of history to this very moment is deceiving human beings into thinking God is holding out on them or He does not have their best interest in mind. The question of "Does God Promise A Spouse" reveals an underlying issue of can I really trust God to fulfill the deepest cravings of my heart? I was just writing about this. Here are a few thoughts but if you can also check out the complete article here http://joelpowertochange.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/delight-yourself-in-the-lord/ The secret to finding fulfillment in life is found in Psalms 37:4. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. As free will beings we are faced with a million different paths and adventures to pursue in life. Though all of these paths provide the illusion of destiny, meaning and intimacy, it is only an illusion. No earthly relationship or experience will ever satisfy the cravings of your heart because apart from relationship with its Creator your heart is hopelessly incomplete. Since pursuing our own desires will never satisfy our hearts, God reveals the secret to fulfilling all cravings in life in Psalms 37:4. Delighting yourself in the Lord is the only way to fulfill the cravings of your heart. You have been made in God’s image, so God alone is able to satisfy the deepest cravings of your heart. Vain attempts to satisfy your soul’s cravings will only leave you wounded, broken and miserable. Every time we attempt to pursue our cravings apart from our Father, his heart breaks… “Why are you settling for so little in life? If only you could see how much greater my plan is for your life! If only you would realize that you are totally incapable of fulfilling the cravings your hearts because you do not even understand your own desires! If only you would trust me because I have created you and only I am able to fulfill the deepest cravings of your heart. The secret to finding the desires of your heart is allowing your Father to lead you into His perfect plan for your life. Don’t waste another moment vainly pursuing your own cravings apart from God. I pray your heavenly Father will awaken your heart to clearly see that He alone can satisfy your deepest desires. As you learn the secret of delighting yourself in the Lord, He alone is able to fulfill your heart’s deepest cravings. Amen Jamie. The devil’s only ploy from the beginning of history to this very moment is deceiving human beings into thinking God is holding out on them or He does not have their best interest in mind. The question of “Does God Promise A Spouse” reveals an underlying issue of can I really trust God to fulfill the deepest cravings of my heart?

I was just writing about this. Here are a few thoughts but if you can also check out the complete article here http://joelpowertochange.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/delight-yourself-in-the-lord/

The secret to finding fulfillment in life is found in Psalms 37:4. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

As free will beings we are faced with a million different paths and adventures to pursue in life. Though all of these paths provide the illusion of destiny, meaning and intimacy, it is only an illusion. No earthly relationship or experience will ever satisfy the cravings of your heart because apart from relationship with its Creator your heart is hopelessly incomplete.

Since pursuing our own desires will never satisfy our hearts, God reveals the secret to fulfilling all cravings in life in Psalms 37:4. Delighting yourself in the Lord is the only way to fulfill the cravings of your heart. You have been made in God’s image, so God alone is able to satisfy the deepest cravings of your heart. Vain attempts to satisfy your soul’s cravings will only leave you wounded, broken and miserable.

Every time we attempt to pursue our cravings apart from our Father, his heart breaks…

“Why are you settling for so little in life?

If only you could see how much greater my plan is for your life!

If only you would realize that you are totally incapable of fulfilling the cravings your hearts because you do not even understand your own desires!

If only you would trust me because I have created you and only I am able to fulfill the deepest cravings of your heart.

The secret to finding the desires of your heart is allowing your Father to lead you into His perfect plan for your life.

Don’t waste another moment vainly pursuing your own cravings apart from God. I pray your heavenly Father will awaken your heart to clearly see that He alone can satisfy your deepest desires. As you learn the secret of delighting yourself in the Lord, He alone is able to fulfill your heart’s deepest cravings.

]]> By: <span class='mentorBadge' title='Jamie is an official Power to Change mentor.' >Jamie</span> http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1424886 Jamie Mon, 28 May 2012 23:14:24 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1424886 I think there is an underlying mistrust of God when we ask, "Did God promise...?" If we trusted that God will follow through with whatever He has promised we would be content to receive the fulfillment of that promise in His perfect timing. There is no need for us to hold God accountable for the promises He has made. He knows far better than any of us what He has promised and He knows the best way for that promise to be fulfilled. It is a far better use of our energy and attention to make sure that we are following what God wants for us right now. When we have all of our attention focused on God, ready to follow wherever He leads us, we will be ready for whatever promise He wants to fulfill in our life. And you can have confidence that where He leads is the best place for you to be, the best relationships for you to be involved in, and the most fulfilling role you could ever have. "And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28) "Everything" is pretty all inclusive; nothing gets left out of "everything". I think there is an underlying mistrust of God when we ask, “Did God promise…?” If we trusted that God will follow through with whatever He has promised we would be content to receive the fulfillment of that promise in His perfect timing.

There is no need for us to hold God accountable for the promises He has made. He knows far better than any of us what He has promised and He knows the best way for that promise to be fulfilled. It is a far better use of our energy and attention to make sure that we are following what God wants for us right now. When we have all of our attention focused on God, ready to follow wherever He leads us, we will be ready for whatever promise He wants to fulfill in our life. And you can have confidence that where He leads is the best place for you to be, the best relationships for you to be involved in, and the most fulfilling role you could ever have. “And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) “Everything” is pretty all inclusive; nothing gets left out of “everything”.

]]> By: Vince http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1414730 Vince Sat, 26 May 2012 21:13:48 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1414730 What are you talking about? You CAN NOT be married to Jesus. You CAN NOT be married to a spirit. What are you talking about? You CAN NOT be married to Jesus. You CAN NOT be married to a spirit.

]]> By: Florence http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1391940 Florence Tue, 22 May 2012 19:48:23 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1391940 I'm left wondering whether the idea that God does not promise me a spouse is true because on several occasions God took it upon Himself to choose partners for his people in the Bible right from Adam - he created Eve, for Isaac, he chose Rebecca, Mary for Josesph. Even in odd situations like King David and Bathsheba; plus that servant of his whom he asked to marry a prostitute! How then can you tell me that God does not promise spouses for us?! I’m left wondering whether the idea that God does not promise me a spouse is true because on several occasions God took it upon Himself to choose partners for his people in the Bible right from Adam – he created Eve, for Isaac, he chose Rebecca, Mary for Josesph. Even in odd situations like King David and Bathsheba; plus that servant of his whom he asked to marry a prostitute! How then can you tell me that God does not promise spouses for us?!

]]> By: <span class='mentorBadge' title='Claire Colvin is an official Power to Change mentor.' >Claire Colvin</span> http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1390799 Claire Colvin Tue, 22 May 2012 15:24:25 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1390799 I have removed the last few comments from this page as things were getting way, way off topic. This article is not a place to debate whether or not "most" women are power hungry etc etc etc. Any further comments on that topic will be deleted. The point of the conversation here is talk about singleness and marriage and God's role in both. I welcome that discussion. I have removed the last few comments from this page as things were getting way, way off topic. This article is not a place to debate whether or not “most” women are power hungry etc etc etc. Any further comments on that topic will be deleted.

The point of the conversation here is talk about singleness and marriage and God’s role in both. I welcome that discussion.

]]> By: Bernadette http://powertochange.com/experience/sex-love/promise/comment-page-24/#comment-1388615 Bernadette Tue, 22 May 2012 03:15:13 +0000 http://thelife.com/experience/sex-love/promise/#comment-1388615 "run", not "fun". Tyrone sounds like he has a lot of hatred in his heart, and I pray he has peace. “run”, not “fun”. Tyrone sounds like he has a lot of hatred in his heart, and I pray he has peace.

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