Once I realized that our Father God is our one true Lover of our soul, I learned that I could only accomplish those things, which His Spirit directed me to do (Psalm 94:17-19); so, I laid aside the shackles of codependence. I stopped serving people for their sake. Instead, I served only those for whom God led me to help.
By spending time with God’s Spirit in every waking moment, I experienced the fullness of God’s love for me. I felt more connected to the entire Trinity of God, and this competence spilled over into everything I did. I started following the Spirit’s direction moment by moment throughout the day.
I simplified my life by scaling down my physical possessions and the size of my home. I spent more time enjoying what God gave me rather than wanting more. I also started giving myself encouragement for a job well done. I came to a place of meeting my own needs and of waiting on God to direct me each moment of the day.
A little while later, God introduced me to a Pastor named Kevin as my new husband. We met spontaneously at Books-a-Million bookstore and were immediately drawn to one another. We dated for six months and saw each other every day, except one, during that time.
After we married, we moved to the Children’s Home ministry in Southwest Florida. A few years later, God opened a door for us to work together as a team in the pastoral ministry in a neighboring church. This switch brought great fulfillment to both of us.
God took the ashes of our former lives and made something beautiful from them. In this interdependent relationship, I came to understand that 1 John 4:7-13 is a very possible and a highly recommended way for two married people to live. Kevin and I prefer one another, and we spend quality time together.
We laugh often, cling together when we cry, and serve God together. Kevin taught me that I could trust him with my fears and insecurities. He learned to listen to my words with understanding; so, I no longer felt like I had to use anger to make my needs known. Since we both love God first, we are free to love one another sacrificially as Christ loves us.
Prayer:
Father God, as we trust only in You, You see us through the devastation of life and bring us out victoriously on the other side. You care for us more deeply than we can ever love one another. You work circumstances out in our life to bring us what we really need. You give us beauty for the ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair (Isaiah 61:3), and new mercies every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
You put a new song on our lips (Psalm 96:1), and we will praise You for eternity. Help us to love others, not through humanistic motives, but by the direction of Your Holy Spirit. When we surrender to Your love, we live a fulfilled life. You make us complete in Your Son, Jesus, our Christ (Colossians 2:10), You help us to walk away from our sinful lifestyle, and You convert us from aliens and sojourners in this world to become part of Your family as we belong to Your Kingdom both now and throughout eternity (1 Peter 2:11).
Thought for the Day:
My husband and I still often meet our own needs, but in our marriage, we do more for one another than we do for our self. God lives in us, His love completes us, and is a river of Living Water that flows from within us to all those He brings our way. We overlook each other’s foibles, and we cherish each other’s love and strengths, which make our life complete and complimentary.
