Author: Ms. Rita's Minute

Perhaps, after a long time, you find yourself single because you simply haven’t received a proposal, your spouse has passed away, you’ve experienced a heart-wrenching divorce, or you haven’t met anyone you desire to marry. Nevertheless, be encouraged–you are blessed to still have time to enjoy those things you love most about being single.

You may appreciate the freedom of not having to check in regularly with your spouse or having to make the many compromises and sacrifices expected in matrimony. Further, you have more time to serve the Lord, free from the hindrance of divided attention to your spouse. Your time still largely remains yours, and the pressures of pleasing a husband or wife don’t exist. Not to mention, you have more time to educate yourself on what makes a healthy spouse. Hence, a healthy marriage.

It could be you’ve often experienced the frustrations of people joyfully entering your life, only to sadly leave for any number of reasons. However, I’d like you to consider, that maybe God permitted each of these people into your life to assist in preparing you for the one you’ll marry. Significant time may have been spent sharpening the rough edges of each of your personalities. Though the relationship may have ended in disappointment, the learning experience was valuable for your success in the next relationship. Your time was not wasted.

Those challenging relationships you encounter in singleness could be essential teachers in helping you learn more about yourself, sparking change, where necessary. These people may be those with whom you may have had to more intently exercise the Holy Spirit’s fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which as a result, has strengthened your spiritual and emotional muscles. In addition, I’m convinced that sometimes, God will allow circumstances that will purposely inhibit you from being attracted to someone to whom you should not be committed.

Whatever the case, with Jesus as your Lord, and His Holy Spirit as your guide, you can trust that no one can provide a better spouse for you than your heavenly Father who created the universe. Imagine what He can provide for you, in His timing, when you simply ask and believe. However, that’s if you should even desire marriage. You don’t have to marry.

Remember these words of truth that can be relied upon:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5/NKJV

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ~Matthew 7:7-9/NKJV

Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. ~Mark 11:24/NKJV

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ~~Ephesians 3:20-21/NKJV

In making decisions regarding your relationships, be especially intentional to move in wisdom considering what’s best for your individual life. A decision to marry is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. I’m seriously considering Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7:28: “…But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.”

So, whether you choose to commit to the loving oneness of marriage, or the freedom and fun of remaining single, having a relationship with your heavenly Father is of the greatest importance. Loving and obeying Him, you’ll reach your greatest fulfillment!

Sacrifice–not the easiest action to perform–yet a major part of life, involves willingly giving up something for the purpose or benefit of something else. Often, we’re asked to sacrifice time, money, skills, or talents for various reasons. We sacrifice for our families, jobs, and churches. Yet nothing comes close to sacrificing one’s entire life and will for another. During this Easter season, this is what Christians celebrate: the sacrifice and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the entire world–the reconciliation of people to God.

As we sacrifice our lives to live for the Lord, may we always be mindful of the matchless value of our Father’s sacrifice of a holy, blameless, life to atone for the darkness of guilty men. Yet amazingly, with the sacrifice of our lives, we gain abundant, eternal life, along with authority and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thankfully, now the old is gone, and the new has come. We are truly blessed!

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I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20/NIV

Faith. It’s everything for the believer. It’s the standard by which we live–the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1/NKJV) Faith is life-sustaining for us, not to mention love. The Bible says faith works through it (Galatians 5:6/NKJV).

Throughout the Bible, Old, and New Testaments, we see faith as a stellar topic. I found 20 references to faith in the book of Matthew alone. It requires relinquishing our dependence upon ourselves or others to bring something to pass but looking to a higher authority and his principles for living, even in the face of life’s uncertainties. Faith says the bible is the standard by which we are transformed, by the renewing of our minds, which strengthens our trust in God.

How is your faith working for you today? Is it strong and steadfast? Or does it appear to be dwindling or close to nonexistent? Thankfully, the Bible has been given as a solid guide toward a true lifestyle of confidence in a faithful God. We study and meditate upon it, as it makes our ways blessed and our souls filled with peace. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” ~Joshua 1:8/NKJV

As believers, let’s remember that “we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7/NKJV) and “…without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6/NKJV)

Seven flowers appear on my site’s header, signifying the believer’s wholeness in Christ. There are many uses of the number seven in the Bible, with four being, 1) the seventh day the Lord rested upon creation of the earth (Genesis 2:2-3); 2) the seventh month the ark rested (Genesis 8:4); 3) debts released every seven years (Deuteronomy 15:1); and 4) the seven churches of the province of Asia (Revelation 1:4).

The number seven in the bible is translated as “hepta,” figurative of God’s perfect finished work, usually symbolizing completeness, which Merriam-Webster defines as having all necessary parts, elements, or steps. Total. Absolute. Fully carried out. Brought to an end.

Thankfully, Colossians 2:10 tells us, as believers, we are “complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Renewing our minds with this truth strengthens our faith in God’s completion of us, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Today, I was reminded of the Bible’s account of Joshua and the city of Jericho in Joshua 6. In this story, God gave Joshua the command to overtake Jericho, the gateway city to Canaan, the promised land by God to the Israelites. Joshua was given specific instructions to have the people walk around the city of Jericho once a day, for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, with seven priests blowing seven trumpets, in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Securing this land was a promise made to Abraham back in the book of Genesis. However, now Joshua was faced with the Lord’s specific orders to conquer the city. Yet, he was not to take control of the city in the fashion to which they were accustomed, but a way that required distinct steps of obedience to achieve a valuable, long-awaited goal.

After the seventh march around the city on the seventh day, the people were instructed to shout for the Lord had given them the city. They were also directed on what things were to be avoided and those things to be kept for the treasury of the Lord. So as the people shouted and the horns were blown, the walls of Jericho fell down; then the people charged straight ahead into the city and captured it. The important thing to note is the particular actions that the Lord commanded to be taken for them to be successful. They couldn’t disregard His commands and expect to reap the benefits of victory. But they had to clearly obey each step to take hold of their promise.

What promises were you given by the Lord that you are waiting for? Has he given you any specific commands to obtain any of them? We should ask ourselves this question as we wait for those things He’s assured we’d receive. We must wait in faith and make sure we are doing anything He may have told us to do to acquire them. As we do, we can be certain, despite any obstacles, we will receive them if we don’t give up! God’s word will not return to him empty, but will accomplish what He pleases and will achieve the purpose he desires. In other words, if He said it, that settles it. He is not a man that lies.

When someone appears unattractive, undesirable, or downright prickly as a porcupine, we normally define this type of person as unlovable–people who make us cringe during conversation or those who have a slant toward rudeness, perhaps. However, Jesus speaks to us in the Bible about loving others; even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45). Yet, sometimes, this can seem an unimaginable task. Nevertheless, we as believers, are given the ability to accomplish this goal by the power of the Holy Spirit and “…if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:13)

A healthy observation would be for us to remember how much we’ve changed for the better from the person we knew who had our share of discouraging flaws. We should look to extend to others the grace shown to us when we weren’t as lovely as we deem ourselves today. To that end, we should love “unlovable” people, pray for them and realize that any lasting transformation can only occur via them and God.

Ever think about the style in which Jesus communicated with people? Even a quick scan through the Bible’s New Testament shows us that He didn’t use an excessive number of words to express himself. However, His ability to speak with clarity, authority, and confidence in every situation was striking to behold. His parables and analogies were remarkable, and it appears his audience always departed thoughtful and inspired.

What if we followed His example in how we shared information? Our goal is to specifically ensure that our audience receives the critical points of our message. This doesn’t mean we need to be lengthy in our approach, but we should be distinct in our expression of God’s word to others. What are the key points and conclusions we wish to convey? Our listeners will appreciate simple, uncomplicated methods of speech.