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  • I’ve Been Single Long Enough

    I’ve Been Single Long Enough

    “It’s still too early to tell, but I really like this guy I’m seeing…” Vanessa, a good friend I’ve known for many years, confided in me. Despite her hopefulness, she harbors a hint of pessimism, fearing that any man she meets might ultimately disappoint her, leaving her single and unmarried for yet another year.

    Matthew 6:34 (ESV) advises us, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” However, convincing a 43-year-old single Christian woman not to be anxious about dating a new man can be met with skepticism. She may push back with words like, “Grrl! Do you know how long I’ve been single?” Yet, while we may think we know what’s best for us, God truly understands every aspect of our being, from head to toe. He knows all about our years of being single.

    Older, more mature women often have a clear idea of the qualities they desire in a partner: financial stability, gainful employment, faithfulness, and readiness for marriage. On the other hand, younger Christian women tend to be more fearless, willing to take risks and chances in their dating lives. Despite these differences, both groups share one commonality: the belief that waiting for God’s approval yields the best outcomes in partnerships.

    1John 4:19(NKJV) eloquently and plainly states: “We love Him because He first loved us.” God is love, and He has created everything out of His unwavering love for us all. Romans 5:5 tells us that God has poured His love into our lives through His precious Holy Spirit. We, then, must understand that love never originates from external sources because its true foundation lies within us through Jesus Christ. So, the first step in accepting love for oneself is surrendering to the love of Jesus. Loving him, making him Lord, is the greatest thing any of us can ever do in this life; it’s relinquishing control and entrusting our lives to the one who loved us first.

    Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) establishes this truth: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

    Over the years, I’ve encountered many single women hoping that the next man they meet will be “the one” to validate years of waiting. However, it’s crucial to recognize that it’s not someone else’s responsibility to shape and define the love we expect to receive. If we’re not accustomed to putting God first and loving ourselves and others through His love, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy love becomes challenging. We then become a slave to feeling around in the dark, not truly knowing who’s going to hurt or hinder our hearts.

    God offers us a better approach. He tells us in Philippians 4:6-7(NLT): “6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers is part of surrendering to God’s plan. It takes courage and strength to believe that God’s way is best. No human being is perfect; we all have room for growth, which is why partnering with someone requires that we are prepared with spiritual strength and the flexibility of God’s love.

    Many are firm in their conviction, “I’ve been single long enough!” They believe it’s time for a change, and indeed it is. We must acknowledge that confronting our vulnerabilities and insecurities with faith is a mandate from God; we won’t get away from this. For some, it’s a fear of being perceived as inadequate or unlovable. Others of us simply haven’t made the kind of commitment to Him that God seeks. It all comes down to our faith in Him. It must grow. Embracing this truth should motivate us to greater love and dispel any doubt that God will bless us in life and marriage. ■

    Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

    “I’ve Been Single Long Enough”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • When Love Turns Sour

    When Love Turns Sour

    One of the lessons that we quickly learn as adults is that relationships require work, and sometimes lots of it. Most of us conclude that we grossly underestimated just how much work it takes to make a relationship last. When we’re dating, we might find ourselves being the one that makes an ample investment into the man’s life, and sometimes that investment isn’t equally reciprocated. Thinking about walking away is very challenging, but we must be clear that mishandling things at this vulnerable juncture is never wise. The love we had for this man can sour and turn to bitterness. When that happens, our own fellowship with God is in jeopardy. We lose the heart and authority to be an effective witness of Christ in the life of someone that we could have influenced and impacted profoundly for God’s Kingdom. This is dangerous, and we really need to think things through.

    In Luke 17:1-4(NLT), Jesus Christ taught the disciples, “1There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

    In this passage, “one of these little ones” is a person that God has predestined as one of His own. Some believe that he is referring to young children only, but Jesus is referring to all God’s children, especially those that are just getting started  in the Word and learning the Way. All of us are offended at some point, this is true, but Jesus warns that woe is the fate of someone that causes spiritual infants to become so offended in the faith that they fall into sin.

    Many of us claim to have our eyes so steadfastly fixed upon the Master, but when a man comes into our lives, some of us forget who we are. Meeting someone new and having a relationship with him is not a time to let our stand on the solid rock to slip, especially when we’re not clear about what we’re working with while dating. Our eyes must be fixed upon Jesus Christ no matter who is in our lives or what our agendas may be. God commands us in 1Corinthians 16:13(NKJV) to “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” We can never let our guards down in a relationship. The love of Christ should be our first priority, and it must be the lasting witness we leave on anyone we meet.

    James 1:22(NLT) tells us, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” We can be sure of one thing; the love of God in Christ never sours. If we’re unsure about that truth, we’re fooling ourselves. We’re obligated by Christ to love others with his brand of love, not our own. 1Corinthians 13:4 tells us that his love—real, true, authentic love—is forgiving, kind, keeps no record of being wronged and doesn’t demand its own way. If this isn’t the love we’re prepared to give to the man we desire, it isn’t the love we should expect to receive.

    It’s entirely possible that “One of these little ones” is the person we’re dating, and if we place our agenda ahead of God’s agenda for their lives, we’re not behaving like doers of the Word but deceiving ourselves. It’s our responsibility as believers to guard our hearts so that we don’t get out of pocket and change the trajectory of a man’s relationship with God. We must pray for this not to happen so that we are the kind of witnesses God is pleased with.

    Ephesians 6:11(NKJV) tells us, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” It would be naïve of us to think that the enemy will not try to make our hearts, or the hearts of our boyfriends, sour in our relationships. We should know that this is his target, and if we allow him to win in one relationship, we will most likely do it in others. God offers us a better way and it is to put on the whole armor that He provides. We must be diligent to renew our minds and put on the mind of Christ, so that if our hearts grow sour in any relationship we are blessed to cultivate, we will turn them to the sweetness of Christ through forgiveness, patience, and a desire to always put God first. ■

    Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “When Love Turns Sour”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • The Harvest is Great, but the Workers Are Few

    The Harvest is Great, but the Workers Are Few

    Matthew 9:37-38(NLT)
    “He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.””

    The word, “harvest” is a very good one, and a good harvest is a very beautiful thing. Harvest is connected to increase, and increase is what many of us are praying to receive in this season of our lives. Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 9:38 to pray to the Lord that is in charge of the harvest, and he doesn’t stop there. He tells us exactly what we ought to be praying for. We should be praying that God will send more workers in the field. Jesus also makes it plain to us that our Heavenly Father is the Owner of the harvest, the fields, and the workers, and this is a very important piece of knowledge for us to have.

    During the time in which he walked the earth, in Matthew 9:37, Jesus Christ told the disciples that the harvest was great, but the workers that were needed to bring in the harvest were few. This is very much the condition of our time as well. There is so much confusion and despair in the world today. It’s chaotic and dark, with divisions and strife everywhere. People desperately need the kind of direction and guidance that our God can give, and it’s our responsibility and privilege to share the saving grace of our Father in Heaven. We might think to ourselves, “It’s not that many people out there that truly want to know about Jesus.” None of us can really say whether this is true or not, but even if this number is shrinking, as followers of Christ, it isn’t our concern.

    God is in charge of the harvest. He takes care of that. Our responsibility is to do as He has commanded. We must make sure that we haven’t missed a beat when it comes to following the Holy Spirit’s promptings, and that as laborers in God’s fields, we have used our span of influence to bless and uplift according to the Spirit’s direction. There should be no doubt in our minds that discipleship is extremely important to backing our faith and positioning ourselves to please God.

    Jesus Christ told the disciples in Mark 16:15(NLT), “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” This is the Great Commission, to share the Gospel, make disciples of those who want to accept Christ, and teach them so they can be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is how we partner with God, and 2Corinthians 6:1(NLT) says, “As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.” When we have accepted the gift of salvation, we can’t ignore it by keeping it to ourselves. It’s the love of God in Christ! We are required to share it. This is the one crucial truth that many single believers miss.

    We must understand that a heart that is eager and diligent to carry forth the Great Commission is the same heart that God requires in a man and woman before they marry. The harvest, the field, and the workers all belong to our Heavenly Father, and 1Corinthians 3:9 tells us that we are both God’s workers and His field. So, it’s not about our agendas, it’s about God’s Will and plan. 1Corinthians 3:7 says that the one who plants aren’t more important than the One who waters. Our Heavenly Father is our everything! It’s all about Him, and when we commit ourselves to the work that He’s called us to do, we will witness a harvest in every area of our lives.■

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “The Harvest is Great, but the Workers Are Few”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • I Can’t Wait to Get Married!

    I Can’t Wait to Get Married!

    Woman praying with the words of Proverbs 3:6 in the background

    Many of God’s promises inspire hope and excitement in us, but there are two simply written and powerful scriptures that will help to build our faith in marriage. The first is John 10:10(NKJV). In this verse, Jesus Christ declared, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” An abundant life would be very satisfying to most of us, but a more than abundant life is our privilege and blessing if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is possible because this is what God wants for us, and if we trust in His provision with our whole hearts, our faith in God’s Will for our lives will cause His blessings to manifest.

    A more than abundant life didn’t exist before Jesus Christ came to the earth and gave his life on the cross of Calvary. Before the finished work of his sacrifice and resurrection, there were rich and wealthy people, beautiful people, intelligent people, and very talented people. However, the wisdom of God’s Word teaches us that it doesn’t matter how wealthy, beautiful, wise, and talented a person may be, if they haven’t made Jesus Christ, Lord, they will not live a more than abundant life. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings because of our union with Christ. This reveals that the boldness, strength, ability, power, authority, and love that we receive from the Holy Spirit because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, these are the true marks of abundance.

    The declaration of Jesus Christ in John 10:10 is so awesomely important to our aspiration for marriage because it informs us of what God has already made available to the believer, yet many of pray as if He hasn’t. The blessing of unequalled abundance is contained within Christ. It is revealed as we live as Christ lived, minister as he ministered, share as he shared and love as he loves. Many single believers are praying to meet ‘the one’. They are seeking God for the blessing of crossing paths with the person that will walk with them through life. This blessing is naturally unfolded as we seek to fulfill the Will of God—as the Will of God becomes the most important pursuit of our lives.

    Many women believe that having a husband is the pinnacle of a more than abundant life. This isn’t true. Loving God through Jesus Christ is the pinnacle of bounty in every way, and we simply can’t be confused about this. We’re over the moon with excitement over the prospect of getting married, but our enthusiasm for it should never exceed our excitement and joy about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 2Corinthians 3:5(NLT) tells us, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as [being] from ourselves, but our sufficiency [is] from God.” This is another promise that God has made to us. He is our sufficiency, and we cannot think that another human being can fill this position. No matter how rich, handsome, talented, and charming the man may be, he cannot make us whole.

    A major shift in priorities must happen for many women that desire marriage. None of us are qualified or sufficient on our own to be wives. It’s God who qualifies us for this ministry. It’s all about our Heavenly Father and the enthusiasm and attentiveness that we demonstrate towards our relationship with Him. This must be evident in the way that we conduct ourselves as followers of Christ. Philippians 4:19(NLT) says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” He alone supplies all our needs. So, while we might feel excited and can’t wait to be married, let’s make sure that honoring God is our top priority. He is happy to bless us with marriage. It will beautifully unfold when fulfilling His purpose and following the example of Jesus Christ is the great joy and delight of our lives.■

    Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “I Can’t Wait to Be Married!”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • Why Your Current Approach Isn’t Leading You to Marriage

    Why Your Current Approach Isn’t Leading You to Marriage

    A young woman looking worried

    As modern Christians, we’ve received more revelation about God’s Word than perhaps any other time in human history. We’ve become sophisticated in formulating our thoughts and expressing our opinions about some aspects of His truth. It’s important we know that this can potentially cause more damage than good. Many of us have refused to allow the sovereignty of God and the order He established in the Old Testament to shape our reverence for Him under the new covenant that Christ has ushered in. Our Lord and Savior said in Matthew 5:17(NKJV), “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Jesus Christ came to do what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He restored our relationship with God, and because of this, we’ve been given the privilege to fully live and express His love and to do extraordinary works in the earth.

    Jesus Christ said in John 14:12(NKJV), “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” As incredible as it may be to grasp, God has empowered us to do greater works above and beyond even those that our powerful Lord and Savior did when he carried forth his ministry on earth. Jesus Christ didn’t preach to the masses all over the world the way that we can, because the technology wasn’t available then. He couldn’t get on a plane and deliver food and support to those in other countries, but because of what God accomplished through Christ, we can do these things and so much more.

    Our Heavenly Father tells us in Ephesians 1:3 that He’s blessed us with all spiritual blessings because of our union with Christ. It is His expectation that we will use the power, intelligence, and other spiritual blessings that He has provided. He expects us to step outside our comfort zones and be a blessing to others to our fullest potential. This is His Will, and we must remember continually that when it comes to our existences on earth, it isn’t our agenda we’re pursuing, it’s His.

    Sadly, this memory about why we’re here gets a little foggy for many of us. We forget that we must seek God’s Will in all that we attempt to do, and that we must follow His Word to remain activated in the faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Deuteronomy 11:26-28(NLT), God told His people living in Old Testament times, “26 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” This standard of trusting God preeminently and following His Word faithfully has not changed. The blessing is contained in His Word, and it is unveiled in our lives as we walk upon His Word.

    For some women, the approach to their quest for marriage is a concoction of socially accepted norms with little sprinkles of God’s standard here and there. When this is our approach, the results we receive will equal our lack of commitment to honor what God says. People whose hearts are not fully anchored in God have their treasures here on earth. Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 6:19 that those will decay, be corrupted or stolen. That’s not where we want to be.

    Our Lord and Master commands in Matthew 6:20(NLT), “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” When our treasures are in heaven, the home of our all-powerful, glorious God, our hearts will be there too. We will shift our approach to the one that Jesus Christ requires in Matthew 6:33(NLT), which is to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Now is not the time to feign allegiance to God’s Word and seek other avenues to the path of His blessings. That will get us nowhere. God is looking at whether and how you truly honor and love Him with your full commitment and heart. Being fully persuaded and sold out to Him through obedience and faith is the posture that releases the provisions of everything we need, including the support and care of the one God sends to walk with us through life.

    The prophet said in Isaiah 48:17 (NLT) “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” We must read and study God’s Word and follow His path to marriage. The attitude of “I didn’t know” is not a valid excuse for skipping over the confessions, behaviors, thoughts, actions, and feelings that please God. His Word is too accessible for that to work. If our approach is to deny what God says, it will not lead us to marriage. The wisdom of Proverbs 21:2(NLT) says, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.” We must have a heart that pleases the Father, and when we’re doing everything within our power to make this our reality, He will bless us with a marriage that is everything He desires it to be.■

    Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Why Your Current Approach Isn’t Leading You to Marriage”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • God Knows What’s Happening to You

    Fight the good fight of faith.

    Jeremiah 15:15 (NLT)
    “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me…”

    Most of us can relate to the words of Jeremiah. We are aware that God is watching our every move. We know that He sees everything we’re going through, and that He knows our pain. We’re asking Him to please step in and help us get on the other side of loneliness and sadness. Why doesn’t it happen already?! Why do we have to continue greeting loneliness everyday like a nagging friend that simply won’t go away. “Lord, will You please just send him to me and let this part of my life be over?” This is the plea in our hearts as we consider facing another morning with our uninvited friend, but we should know that it is not one that goes unanswered. Our God is a very present help, and we must trust this with every part of our hearts.

    A friend said to me, “I hate feeling lonely. It’s been almost two years, and I still haven’t met anyone!” I could hear the frustration in her voice and my heart went out to her. Having a deep desire to be married without meeting the right man can be challenging, but God has not left us alone to wade through singleness with unfulfilled desires. He wants to bless us with a relationship that will lead to marriage, and the condition is that we lean and depend on Him with our whole hearts. We must strengthen our relationship with God, and this requires us to renew our minds to His Word and change the way we think.

    Jeremiah 15:18-19(NLT) tells us more about Jeremiah’s plea to our Heavenly Father for help. Jeremiah asked, “18 Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.” Verse 19 tells us, “This is how the LORD responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!”

    Our Heavenly Father responded to His prophet Jeremiah with a code of conduct that opens the doors of His blessings. The prophet was really struggling in his mind and heart to fully trust God. He even went as far as to say that God’s help seemed uncertain. This was not the way to honor our Heavenly Father. It wasn’t the kind of thinking that conveys faith, but rather, it conveys doubt.

    In God’s response, He told Jeremiah that if he would return to Him, restoration would occur. Jeremiah had turned away from God when he allowed his faith to diminish. He began to do what many of us do today, which is to speak worthless words of doubt and unbelief. Our Heavenly Father makes it clear that these are not words that glorify Him. He is not pleased with them, and He cannot reward a mindset and attitude like that. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 12:36(NLT), “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”  We must be ever so careful to speak good words that express the goodness of our God and the perfection of His love and power.

    Our Heavenly Father also said something else to Jeremiah that was really extraordinary. He said, “You must influence them; do not let them influence you!” This is God’s expectation for our conduct towards anyone that we meet and date. So often, we are influenced to do things that are contrary to God’s Will and Word, and this is something we must overcome. Not only must we demonstrate discipline over these temptations, but we must completely flip the script so that we assume the role of being an influencer for Christ. If we’re not prepared to do this, we’re not moving as quickly towards our desires as we could be.

    One of the greatest tricks of the enemy is to convince us that we are powerless, hopeless, and without love. This is not the truth. God knows what is happening to us every moment of our lives, and He is always causing things to work together for our good. Our responsibility as born-again believers is to trust in His Word. God’s love is our confidence, and His truth is life to us! So, we must confess what God says is true, and not what we think is true. We have to wake up and recognize that every decision we make today will shape and mold our tomorrows, so we must make our words and actions count. There must be a shift in our thinking to trust God more and focus on ourselves less. When we follow this code of conduct, we will witness movement in our desires, and it will increase in momentum as we continually speak, think, and act like Christ.■

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “God Knows What Is Happening to You”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • Your Face Mirrors Your Heart

    Your Face Mirrors Your Heart

    Beautiful young woman in her Sunday hat with the words of 2 Peter 3:18.

    Proverbs 27:19 (MSG)
    “Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.”

    A while ago, I met up with two friends and both were having issues in their relationships. One was struggling with whether to remain in his marriage, and the other was frustrated because her significant other was reluctant to get married after being together three years.  Neither of my friends were happy and their faces told the whole story.

    Proverbs 27:19 tells us that just as water will reflect our face, our faces will reflect what is in our hearts. Sometimes what is in our hearts is a lot of hurt and confusion about the relationships that mean the most to us. We want them to last, but the other person isn’t who we hoped they’d be, and we don’t know what to do with the disappointment. Should we stay and try to make things work, or should we cut our losses and hope for a better future with someone else?

    Society’s proverbial wisdom says, “Do what is in your heart.” We hear things like, “Let your heart be your guide.” This isn’t the wisdom that God teaches in His Word. Jeremiah 17:9(NLT) tells us, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” So, letting our hearts govern our decisions is never a wise choice. In fact, it can lead to very unsatisfactory results. Our Heavenly Father tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust in Him with all our hearts. He tells us not to lean on our own understanding but seek His Will in all that we do. When this is our practice, He promises to direct and show us which path to choose.

    The heart that God speaks about in Jeremiah 17:9 isn’t referring to the one that pumps blood throughout our physical bodies. He’s informing us about the heart that is the seat of our being. It’s the one that we can’t hold in our hands, but our hearts are so essential to our relationship with God that He tells us every ounce of it must be dedicated to loving and trusting Him. 2Timothy 2:22(NLT) tells us, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” Purity of heart leads to happiness and having this kind of heart should be our greatest ambition because it pleases God.

    2Corinthians 9:8 teaches us that God is our sufficiency. He knows everything, and rather than trying to figure out things on our own, He tells us to seek Him with all our hearts. We need to do this even when we’re disappointed or betrayed by someone we trusted to be in our corners. Sometimes, it isn’t all about what they’ve done, but how we’ve responded to what they’ve done. Just as our hearts are reflected on our faces, our significant others are a mirror for us as well. They reflect that we need to renew our minds and put on more of God’s love. We need to be the change we want to see.

    To tell someone to let go of a relationship when they’re not ready is almost always a useless exercise. Likewise, to convince someone they are ending a relationship unwisely and without the counsel of God is also sometimes just as futile. People have their own way of thinking and processing emotions, but if they are not motivated out of a heart that is full of the love of Christ, they can set themselves back big time. God’s Word tells us in Ephesians 4:32(NLT),“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” This is God standard, and it must govern the way we treat all our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those that have disappointed us.■

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Your Face Mirrors Your Heart”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • Everybody Needs Somebody

    Everybody Needs Somebody

    God is Love 1John 4:16

    John 13:34(NLT)
    “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

    Everybody will need somebody at some point. It’s a fact of life, and it is how God designed life to work. We need Him, that’s a truth that can’t be denied, but to enjoy our earth experience to the fullest, we also need other people. Our Heavenly Father has specific standards and guidelines in His Word, and these govern how He says we ought to treat and value one another. He said in Ephesians 4:31-32(NLT), “31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” This will ensure that our hearts are like a magnet, drawing the love and company of those who love the Lord as we do, and having an attitude of forgiveness is one that sets all this in motion.

    Having an attitude of forgiveness is also a struggle for some people. For whatever reason, holding onto resentment and grudges for those that have wronged them becomes their way of facing life each day, but this isn’t what our Heavenly Father wants. It’s a difficult, demanding, and cold world we live in, and frustrating things are happening all the time. Our Lord and Savior didn’t keep this a secret from us. He told the disciples in John 16:33(NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Over two thousand years later, this is still very much the case. The trouble that our Lord and Savior pointed to is still with us, but we can’t forget the Good News that he also shares with us. He gives us a peace that passes all understanding, and by leaning totally on him in faith and walking in his Spirit, we are victorious on every hand.

    With this kind of victory, our hearts should be filled to overflowing with love for God and everyone else. We know this, but when people injure us deeply, we sometimes find it hard to forget the sting of the pain they’ve caused. They were selfish, thoughtless, and irritated us beyond what we could tolerate. It touched that place inside that we don’t want touched. Rather than love and forgive them, some of us have used anger and bitterness to seal up the walls of our hearts because of the damage this person has done.

    God tells us in Ephesians 4:31(NLT), “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” There are tons of reasons why we choose to harbor feelings that prompt the wrong behaviors. The important thing for us to know is that these behaviors and feelings can keep people away from us. We can become so full of fear from the pain we’ve experienced that we won’t let anyone in.

    I know more than a few people that have done this. They want so desperately to meet the Godly person that He sends to walk with them through life, but they are terrified to allow themselves to love fully because of the fear of being hurt.

    Everybody needs somebody, and we never know when we’re going to need somebody the most. We need to keep a heart that is open so that we can be a blessing to others, and they can be a blessing to us. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:8(NLT), “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has freed us from every kind of prison, and we shouldn’t let anything in this world cause us to put chains around our hearts ever again. We can’t live from a place of fear or bitterness and have the kind of life that God wants us to live. We need to lay down those things and keep our hearts open with love for God and a tenderhearted, compassionate, and forgiving love for others.■

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “Everybody Needs Somebody”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • I Have to Make a Change

    I Have to Make a Change

    Psalm 86:11

    After a friend went MIA for a little over a month, she shared with me that she had decided to make some changes to her physical appearance. As women that have been praying a long time to meet the man that God will send, we often place ourselves under a lot of scrutiny. We might begin to find fault with our appearance and think that our flaws are impeding our progress towards the intended goal. I had no idea that my friend was feeling insecure in any way. She’s a very accomplished person and always seems to be so confident in herself. I was surprised to hear that she wasn’t happy with what she sees in the mirror. She decided to have surgery, and said to me, “This change is exactly what I needed, and I’m so glad I did it.”

    Many of us want to be thinner, smarter, more attractive, or richer. In our modern times, for a fee, there are several avenues available to make just about any change that we want to ourselves. Likewise, there are also varying motivations behind a person’s desire to make these changes in their lives, but often they find that changing the outside doesn’t change the inside. Whatever a person’s motive may be, real transformation starts with renewing our minds to the Word of God. His wisdom teaches us that transformation will always begin from the inside out.

    There are tons of God’s people that are not happy with their lives, and it is usually because becoming more like Christ is not their highest priority. In some cases, it’s the furthest thing from their minds. They want their lives to completely change from what it’s been. They want to leave the old behind and embark on a new chapter, but the only way to do this is to turn our focus away from ourselves and onto God through the Lord Jesus Christ. We must allow for the possibility that what needs to change is our attitude and commitment towards the Father.

    We must be ever so careful that our desires do not blind our eyes to the greatness of what God has revealed to us in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) says, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” God wants us to become more like Jesus Christ with each passing day. We are right that change is necessary to bring about a change in our circumstances. Change is necessary to take us to the next level of blessings, but that change must occur in our minds and hearts first, and then everything else follows.

    In Isaiah 43:15-19 (NLT), God said, “15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. 16 I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. 17 I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. 18 “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

    God has begun a new work within us through Jesus Christ, and He is sure to finish what He started. Let’s not make the mistake of overlooking the obvious. We must be extremely thankful for what God has already done for us in our lives, but sometimes we lack the level of gratitude for Him that we should have. Instead of growing deeper in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we seek other things. If we want a meaningful and fulfilling existence, we have to change this. Real change begins when our way of living, behaving, thinking and being is drenched and running over with our love for God and our willingness to please Him. When this is our aim, our hearts will be transformed, and our lives will follow. ■

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “I Have to Make a Change”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  • He’s Mine Forever

    He’s Mine Forever

    Psalm 73:25-26 (NLT)
    “25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”

    If you’ve been in a significant relationship for a few years, and then things fall apart, the absence of having this person in your life can be deafening. When we’re in a relationship, we rarely consider the pain, anxiety, and lasting consequences that follow a breakup. These are not welcomed visitors, but they can come without invitation. We got too comfortable and for some of us, this was a trap. Without being conscious of it, “He’s mine forever” began to play in the background of our minds, and we bought into this even though the man never promised it, and his actions never conveyed it.

    Discernment
    The harsh reality is that pain is often our greatest teacher. It should teach us to guard our hearts, to be careful about who we let into our lives, and to be as patient with God as possible, especially when we’re figuring out exactly what we’re working with in the discernment phase of the relationship. It should also teach us that we desperately need God’s help with the rugged terrain of relationships. It’s arguably the area that we need spiritual discernment most. We need this sharpened spiritual tool to steer clear of men that will ultimately be harmful to our walk with the Father through Jesus Christ. They can cause us to go backward instead of forward, and when we get caught up in this, we can potentially miss the one God has sent.

    We need to know that it’s possible to miss a blessing. People do it all the time. Proverbs 3:5-6(NLT) says, “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” The wrong path will set us up for failure, but in every case, the right path will lead us to God’s blessings. He’s the One who shows us which path to take. If we lean on Him, we’ll have the discernment to know what is for us and what isn’t.

    Learn to love appropriately

    The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:9-11(The Message) says, “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” Romantic love isn’t primary. Loving a man through the love of Jesus Christ is most important to our Heavenly Father, and this is the kind of love that overcomes all obstacles.

    God’s wisdom teaches us that “He’s mine forever” is not the right attitude when there’s no ring on our fingers. We know from experience that sometimes relationships do not stand the test of time; only our relationship with God through Jesus Christ will last forever. So, we must be so careful not to place all our eggs in another individual’s basket. We need to be anchored in God. Only He is worthy of all our trust. The psalmist said in Psalm 73:25 that he desired God more than anything else. This should be the passion of our hearts as well. When it is, we will walk with the Lord, and be guided by Him. Then we can trust what He has for us with all our hearts. ■

    Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

    Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

    “He’s Mine Forever”, written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.