There’s been a
series of difficult events occurring in my life, and I find that I’m quick to
analyze, figure out, and try to put the pieces together. I guess
what it comes down to is that I am somewhat of a control freak. For
me, if I can’t have control, I fool myself into thinking that I’ve got some
sort of ability to “figure it out” in my head.
But as I’ve been
weeding through Scripture lately, I’m realizing that my tendency to
over-
So for those of
you who may find yourself consumed by your love life- or lack thereof,
here are some ways to mentally and prayerfully hand those things to the One who
can actually do something about it:
Pray…
1. That God
would give you a relationship (Matthew 7:7)! God’s
word challenges us to ask and bring our needs before God. As long as
our hearts are aligned with His, there are no limits on what we can
ask. What are your deepest needs and desires when it comes to a
relationship? Let Him know.
2. That He
would grant you patience and insight to wait for a good one (Isaiah 40:31). Waiting
on God is never easy, because once again, it is a reminder that we are not in
control. But through the time of waiting, ask God to change you,
nourish you, and fill you so that you are empowered and prepared to take the next
steps when the timing is right.
3. That He
would be working out anything unhealthy in your life (Jeremiah 33:8). Some
of our baggage and sin we can recognize, and some we can’t. As you
seek to enhance your love life, be sure to ask God to help you recognize and
heal all the things in your life that aren’t lining up with His
best. Seek to get to the bottom of your sins, and ask for His
healing power to be at work in your life.
4. That He
would shape your heart for nourishing interactions with others (Colossians 3:12-14). It’s
important to learn how to love, rather than simply longing to be loved. When
your heart is open to loving and edifying others the way it was meant to, your
relationships will be enriched and empowered.
5. That He
would bring healing into your past so that you are free to embrace the present (Philippians 3:13-14). We
are called to move forward, and forget what is behind. Sometimes,
it’s easy to get stuck on our past and be paralyzed from living in the
present. No matter what kinds of things your past may hold, ask God
to be at work in your past so that you are free to live in the moment and
embrace your present.
6. That He
would protect your emotional world and give you wisdom of how to set healthy
boundaries (Proverbs 4:23).
I talk a lot about guarding our hearts and how to
practically do that, but how often do we actually pray about our hearts and
emotional worlds? God longs to be a part of our emotions just as
much as our spiritual life. He is a holistic God, who longs to
interact with our mind, body, and soul. Give Him a chance by opening
your emotional life to Him through prayer.
7. That He
would open your eyes to the joy of doing sex His way (Hebrews 13:4). It’s
so easy to focus on what we can’t do before marriage, and end up harbouring
bitterness and resentment. But what if we were to ask God to open
our eyes to doing life His way? What if we were to plead with Him to
download His heart onto ours, so that we could truly understand what is best
for our lives? Rather than struggling with His plan, let’s ask Him
to reveal His heart to ours, particularly in the area of sex and sexuality, so
that we can be freed to trust Him without bitterness or
regret. (More on this in Chapter 8 of True Love Dates)
8. That God
would be the focus of your life now and forever (Psalm 37:4). At
the end of the day, no matter how we view it, there is no gift that is greater
than the Giver. Whether we feel that or not, it doesn’t cease
to be true. May we continue to bring this request before God, so that
He can turn our hearts to Him as our greatest delight and desire, because
perspective has the power to change everything.
by Debra Fileta
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