I believe that God did bring us together at a time in our life that we were perfect for each other. I know that I was looking for something different in my mid 30's than I was in my early 20's. I also had a life experience that changed me dramatically.
I was ready for a change in my life. I was ready to make my next wife the most important person in my life along with my kids. I was ready to make that life have God be the focal point of our relationship. I was ready for God to mold me. While I prayed to God several times when my marriage was struggling, it took a divorce to really be open for change.
What does God need to change in you so that He can help you? Can you look at yourself and see what it is that you want so bad from God and decide how you have to be different so that God can answer your prayers?
If you are lonely, maybe God needs you to learn to love yourself and be happy before someone else can be made happy by you. You have to be happy with yourself before you can be an attractive person to someone else. You have to be happy enough to be happy for other people's success. Does other peoples happiness make you happy or sad? Do you enjoy seeing others fail? Your spouse wants and needs that. Men need to feel respected. Women need to feel appreciated and loved.
If you are looking for more friends, maybe God needs you to step out and get involved with people that are healthy for you. Mom is a good example of this. Look at the quality of her friends from her work at the library and book club. Ask God for direction, then do something. Join a sunday school class. Volunteer to serve at the church in some capacity. Think about those women at the churches who served dinner for us after funerals. Their bond is with each other and is Christ centered. If we feel that we are good and liked when we are working, then maybe we need to extend that to our person life.
How do I know what God wants me to do differently? Listen to Him! He is talking to us all the time. He talks to us through sermons, through His word (Bible), through others (surround yourself with others who are listening to God), through your thoughts (Holy Spirit - you probably know what needs to change, you just aren't pushing yourself) and my favorite through music.
I listen to Christian music a lot. Some of my blog ideas come from a certain song or message that I hear while listening to music. I have other types of music that I may feel is more entertaining, but the Christian music is probably the easiest way for God to talk to me and for me to get my daily devotion. Let me give you some examples:
"Somebody is praying me through" by Allen Asbury. This song reminds me to pray for my family.
"I need you now" by Billy Ray Cyrus. This song reminds me that Jesus was there suffering also. He knows our pain. He lived as a man.
"Walk on Water" by Evan Almighty sound track. This reminds me of Dad and to live life like he would want me to live.
"Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. We don't choose to live a life that would disappoint God. We just slowing fade away from Him very gradually.
"Let your mercy rain", "Amazing Grace", "Glory in the Highest" all by Chris Tomlin.
"Feels like Redemption" by Michael English. This is one of my favorites!
"Mighty to Save" by Hillsong.
"Still Calls me Son" by John Waller
"Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me. If the rain that He brings us will make us better, then bring the rain. Scary but it definitely fits my life and going through divorce.
"Open the eyes of my Heart" by Michael W. Smith
"Empty Me" on a Praise Hymn
"Aware" by Salvador.
I love Third Day's songs: "Can't take the Pain", "Worthy is the Lamb", "I see love", "I will hold my head high", "Mountain of God", "You are Mine".
I pray that all of you will listen to these songs for what God has to say to you, not just for the entertainment value. When I listen, I am thinking of all of you and praying for you and feeling a lot of love.
Guess we know who this was directed at. I could say alot of things that would sound like excuses and justifications but I won't. I have lost all my nerve and self esteem. I will listen to your music.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about you some but not entirely. I would like you to see yourself as God and as we see you rather than how you think we see you. Love ya.
ReplyDeleteYou lose points for confessing that you enjoy a Billy Ray Cyrus song, regardless of the meaning or content.
ReplyDeleteWell, alot of what you say is easier said than done. Scott says he likes me so what else of to my heart. There is another one that is my very fave but I can't remember the name. That older lady sings it --something about take my heart in your hands. That is sort of my relationship with God right now. Begging him to come to my heart. But I have done that for years. Also strange that I asked God to help Dick and I and then Dick wouldn't even try to go to church whatever--look at him now! Oh well, day by day.
ReplyDeletePS--Billy Ray is sort of hard to take. Brent-did you read the Shack. Interested in what you would think.
Sandi Patty "God of all of me"?
ReplyDeleteI didn't read the Shack. It doesn't sound like Billy Ray. If I had said Michael Jackson, then Blake would have liked it.
Dick may be another example of someone that God couldn't change until he went through a major change on his own. His heart was closed....that's why I like "Open the eyes of my heart".
Michael Jackson>Billy Ray Cyrus
ReplyDelete