A Love Story for His glory. We were all made for this.
Everyone loves a good love story. As a little girl, I loved the fairytale love stories I would read in children’s books. Those things have an attraction to us, because we were created for something like this – a beautifully deeper story that transforms every other part of our story.
In this post, I am going to give you an overview heartbeat of the material – and in the coming posts, we will look more specifically at certain points!
The Big Love Story –
There is a bigger story than our earthly love story. This story is the purpose of our lives and is
the Love Story you are called to no matter what your earthly love story looks
like. All of your life and relationships
will flow from where you stand in this Love Story.
The Biggest Love Story – The Gospel - God created people to be in fellowship with Him, bringing joy to man and glory to God. But people sinned and broke our relationship with God. God showed His powerful love by sending His perfect Son Jesus to earth to die on the cross for people’s sins and rise victorious – offering forgiveness of sin, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life in Jesus. When we trust in Jesus to save us and give our lives to Him as our Lord, we become His - the Bride of Christ – forever.
This is the most beautiful Love Story of all time. All of life and human love stories point to this. Only when we grasp this Love Story will we be fulfilled, and be able to have the right approach to a human love story - lived in, from, and for this Love Story.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Love Relationship with Jesus -
Our Love Story begins and ends with Jesus. We were created to find our total satisfaction in a personal relationship of love with Jesus. He is the only place we find total satisfaction - It is simply not possible for a human, no matter how wonderful they are, to meet the needs God created that only He can meet.
I can tell you from personal experience that Jesus will fully satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. Those deep longings that nothing else can fill were meant to draw you to Him. When you find your satisfaction in Jesus, you realize that you have everything you truly need!
When we are fulfilled in Jesus and whole in Him, we are in a much better place for life and to enter a relationship pursuing marriage (and any other relationship!), if that is what the Lord has for us!
“He satisfies the longing soul…” (Psalm 107:9)
Relationship and Marriage – the why and the how -
When your life is lived in, from, and for the greatest Love Story (Jesus and the Gospel), your mission in life, decisions, and actions will flow from that – as well as the way you consider a relationship.
When we think about marriage, we need to ask, “Why do I want to get married?” We need to know the “why” before we consider the “who”, “when”, and “how”. When you have gotten before Jesus about this and your perspective and goals are in place, you are in a better frame of mind to be considering who the Lord might have you marry.
Taking steps in considering marriage is a beautiful opportunity in seeking to honor Christ and point one another – and everyone watching - to Him in a way that displays Jesus.
It is so powerful, protecting, and freeing to look at the gifts of our personal walk with Him, His Word, community, counsel, boundaries and accountability, serving and walking through hard places together.
In every step, it takes much prayer, staying close to Jesus, being in His Word, listening to good counsel, and seeking to follow and glorify Jesus in every step you take.
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (Psalm 34:3)
You and Your Life -
Look at you before you consider a guy – get before Jesus and know whose you are – His, who you are – both your identity in Christ and who He has created you to be, and where He has called you – your purpose in life. This is so essential to know as you consider who you will commit to spend your life with!
As you walk in love with Jesus and live in these realities, the right kinds of guy will be attracted to the Jesus in the real you.
And remember - The single you will be the married you. (Character, habits, relationship patterns, etc.)
The Guy You Consider -
Once you know your purpose in life, who you are, and why you would marry, then you are in a much better place to consider who you will marry.
As you do, it is important to look at the key things in a guy you know God would have you consider – What are his walk with Jesus, his character, his beliefs, his mission in life, his goals for marriage and family?
Knowing both of these things helps you keep a more level head when considering guys who pursue you.
One of the best pieces of marriage advice I’ve ever received was this, “Marry someone who loves Jesus more than you - Then he will love you well.”
The Story for His Glory -
Let us keep in mind our purpose in living, singleness, relationships, and marriage – to know Jesus and to make Him known. You can – and must - do this at every stage.
God is the Author of the most beautiful Love Story of all time and can be fully trusted with your life and the area of your human love story. Let God write every part - what He does is always best.
You are called to take part in the greatest Love Story of all time. Whether it involves a human love story or not, you are called to be fully loved, satisfied, and filled with purpose as you embrace Jesus and His love every day you live.
As you walk closely with Jesus, embracing life with His love wherever He calls you, with the goal of making much of Him - it will be a Love Story for His Glory.
And you will have a happily ever after.
The Biggest Love Story – The Gospel - God created people to be in fellowship with Him, bringing joy to man and glory to God. But people sinned and broke our relationship with God. God showed His powerful love by sending His perfect Son Jesus to earth to die on the cross for people’s sins and rise victorious – offering forgiveness of sin, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life in Jesus. When we trust in Jesus to save us and give our lives to Him as our Lord, we become His - the Bride of Christ – forever.
This is the most beautiful Love Story of all time. All of life and human love stories point to this. Only when we grasp this Love Story will we be fulfilled, and be able to have the right approach to a human love story - lived in, from, and for this Love Story.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Love Relationship with Jesus -
Our Love Story begins and ends with Jesus. We were created to find our total satisfaction in a personal relationship of love with Jesus. He is the only place we find total satisfaction - It is simply not possible for a human, no matter how wonderful they are, to meet the needs God created that only He can meet.
I can tell you from personal experience that Jesus will fully satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. Those deep longings that nothing else can fill were meant to draw you to Him. When you find your satisfaction in Jesus, you realize that you have everything you truly need!
When we are fulfilled in Jesus and whole in Him, we are in a much better place for life and to enter a relationship pursuing marriage (and any other relationship!), if that is what the Lord has for us!
“He satisfies the longing soul…” (Psalm 107:9)
Relationship and Marriage – the why and the how -
When your life is lived in, from, and for the greatest Love Story (Jesus and the Gospel), your mission in life, decisions, and actions will flow from that – as well as the way you consider a relationship.
When we think about marriage, we need to ask, “Why do I want to get married?” We need to know the “why” before we consider the “who”, “when”, and “how”. When you have gotten before Jesus about this and your perspective and goals are in place, you are in a better frame of mind to be considering who the Lord might have you marry.
Taking steps in considering marriage is a beautiful opportunity in seeking to honor Christ and point one another – and everyone watching - to Him in a way that displays Jesus.
It is so powerful, protecting, and freeing to look at the gifts of our personal walk with Him, His Word, community, counsel, boundaries and accountability, serving and walking through hard places together.
In every step, it takes much prayer, staying close to Jesus, being in His Word, listening to good counsel, and seeking to follow and glorify Jesus in every step you take.
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (Psalm 34:3)
You and Your Life -
Look at you before you consider a guy – get before Jesus and know whose you are – His, who you are – both your identity in Christ and who He has created you to be, and where He has called you – your purpose in life. This is so essential to know as you consider who you will commit to spend your life with!
As you walk in love with Jesus and live in these realities, the right kinds of guy will be attracted to the Jesus in the real you.
And remember - The single you will be the married you. (Character, habits, relationship patterns, etc.)
The Guy You Consider -
Once you know your purpose in life, who you are, and why you would marry, then you are in a much better place to consider who you will marry.
As you do, it is important to look at the key things in a guy you know God would have you consider – What are his walk with Jesus, his character, his beliefs, his mission in life, his goals for marriage and family?
Knowing both of these things helps you keep a more level head when considering guys who pursue you.
One of the best pieces of marriage advice I’ve ever received was this, “Marry someone who loves Jesus more than you - Then he will love you well.”
The Story for His Glory -
Let us keep in mind our purpose in living, singleness, relationships, and marriage – to know Jesus and to make Him known. You can – and must - do this at every stage.
God is the Author of the most beautiful Love Story of all time and can be fully trusted with your life and the area of your human love story. Let God write every part - what He does is always best.
You are called to take part in the greatest Love Story of all time. Whether it involves a human love story or not, you are called to be fully loved, satisfied, and filled with purpose as you embrace Jesus and His love every day you live.
As you walk closely with Jesus, embracing life with His love wherever He calls you, with the goal of making much of Him - it will be a Love Story for His Glory.
And you will have a happily ever after.
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