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Serving My Spouse in Service to Christ

‘“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’’ Matthew 25:34-40(NLT)

The dictionary defines compassion as “a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.” Christ modeled compassion for us as he healed the sick, prayed for those he met, fed the hungry, and gave the ultimate sacrifice to secure our salvation. In today’s passage, he instructs us to do the same.

As Christians, we may be inspired to serve the helpless or homeless or to respond when a natural disaster strikes. There’s a sense of joy and accomplishment when we go in Jesus’ name to make a difference in the lives of those who are hurting. The tricky part about compassion is when we must extend it to those closest to us on a consistent and ongoing basis. The daily grind of disability can be isolating and can challenge even the strongest marriage. Worries about the costs of medical supplies, new equipment, therapies, and more can create anxiety and add to the physical toll on caregivers.

The Christian’s definition of compassion is very different than the one in the dictionary. Jesus doesn’t call us to be compassionate when we feel like it, but to serve others in service to him. Jesus asks us to dig deep when our backs are aching from wheelchair transfers, when we don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night to administer yet another breathing treatment, when we are too overwhelmed to make one more doctor’s appointment.

Jesus reminds us to look beyond our difficult circumstances to see him. When we imagine the face of our compassionate Savior smiling at us, we find the strength and peace to continue on. This type of service isn’t about accolades or “attaboys,” because very few will see what goes on behind closed doors or what is required of a spouse serving as a caregiver. But Jesus sees. And he assures us that we will receive a just reward when we hear him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

from Marriage And Disability

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Humility Is the Key

‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.’ Philippians 2:3-8(NLT)

The love that carries a couple to the altar is not the same love that sustains them through the ups and downs of marriage. Juggling family, careers, and finances, plus the unique challenges of living with a disability, can leave us exhausted and overwhelmed. Yet despite any hardships, we are called to live in humility, considering others’ needs before our own. We are to “have the attitude of Christ.” Yet we live in a world that reinforces a me-first perspective.

You’ve probably heard the saying that we must first put on our own oxygen mask so we can then help others. This is true, but we must be wary that self-care doesn’t become self-centeredness. Most marriages have an ebb and flow, with seasons of give and take. But when one spouse has a disability, the other is often required to serve as the primary caregiver. This can lead to feelings of resentment, anger, or even depression. Self-centeredness on the part of either spouse is detrimental to a healthy marriage and is not the example Christ modeled.

In Philippians 2:3-8, Paul emphasizes the sacrificial nature of Christ’s love for us and challenges us to do likewise. In Ephesians 5, Paul reiterates this call to Christ-likeness, and then proceeds to apply the concept to marriage. He teaches mutual submission, where each spouse is willing to go the “extra mile” for the other. By contrast, the world promotes marriage as a partnership, an “equitable” relationship with a 50/50 split of benefits, burdens, and responsibilities. But life—and marriage—doesn’t always go that way.

How can we combat the human tendency to “look out for number one”? Prayer. Our Savior not only understands our unique needs but also tells us to come boldly to him. He asks us to lay any resentment, anger, anxiety, or fear at his feet, so that he can pour his love and mercy into our lives. Couples coping with pain, disease, hardship, or mental illness need to constantly pray together, asking for the same attitude that Christ had when he humbled himself to obey God’s plan. He gives us access to come before the throne of grace and promises to show us the way forward.

from Marriage And Disability

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God’s Design for Love

‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ‘ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(NLT)

Young people’s ideas about love and marriage are influenced by their parents and their culture, including its fairy tales about Prince Charming and a happily-ever-after life. We all dream of having an attractive spouse, a great job, and a couple of kids. We fantasize about what marriage will add to our lives—love, companionship, security, and even sex. But the fairy tales don’t even hint at what marriage will require of us. Once the honeymoon is over, most couples discover that marriage is hard work. This can be further complicated for couples living with disabilities, who may face pain, physical limitations, and exhaustion.

Unfortunately, when we’re distressed, our spouses can be an easy target. Misunderstandings, score-keeping, feelings of entitlement, and other perils can take a toll on even the most loving couple. However, by God’s grace, a disability can also bring out the best in a couple.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, God addresses the struggles we encounter in marriage. To the wife of a husband with a disability who feels overlooked or taken for granted, God says, “Love is patient and kind.” To the husband with a disability who lashes out or feels misunderstood or emasculated, God says, “Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way.” To the spouses keeping an account of transgressions, God says, “[Love] is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” To those ready to throw in the towel, God says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. . . . love will last forever!”

While embracing God’s design for love is crucial for a healthy marriage, it’s also difficult. Fortunately, God isn’t asking us to attend a marriage seminar or read another book on marriage, although these can be helpful. He asks us to lean into his strength and power. Galatians 2:20 tells us, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Christ living in us gives us the ability to be victorious over our own self-centeredness and the struggles that impact our marriages. When we trade our human desire for Christ’s nature, we are able to focus on how we can better love and serve our mates.

from Marriage And Disability

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Day 10: Red Flags in Me #3

‘A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.’ Proverbs 27:12(NLT)

‘“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.’ John 15:5-8(NLT)

‘throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.’ Ephesians 4:22-24(NLT)

Our family experienced a horrible house fire when I was young. It was truly a miracle we all made it out in time. We still praise God today for His deliverance and protection! The moment my dad saw smoke, he yelled to our family to get out of the house! He didn’t wait till he saw fire.

In life, it’s best to confront something when you see smoke rather than wait for the fire. Sometimes we dismiss the red flags in our lives because we simply don’t want to deal with them, but if we would have given them attention when we saw smoke, we could have avoided the fire. Faith can’t fix what you won’t face. Faith has the ability to face the facts, look them in they eye, and declare the truth of God’s Word. Below are the last three red flags to be aware of in yourself:

1) You are running around consistently stressed and burnt out. 

2) You are waiting for “the next season” in life to find joy and be happy. 

3) You are constantly negative or sarcastic rather than positive and encouraging. 

The life of a believer is like a gardener. You have to tend to your heart and pull out any weeds of bitterness, envy, selfishness, and so on so that the fruit of the spirit can grow! If you see smoke in your heart, do something about it before it becomes a full-blown fire. How do we do that? When we see red flags within us, we can bring them before God and ask His Spirit to work within us to bring change, health, and freedom. 

The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone; our Father is the master gardener and tender of our hearts. In John 15:1-4 Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Let’s be people who always allow God to move in our lives and mold us into the image of His Son! Red flags are simply signaling areas in our lives where we need to grow in our faith journey. May we be aware of them and invite God to have His way in our lives so we can be Kingdom carriers and effective vessels of His love to a lost world! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, teach me how to work with you when it comes to tending to my heart. Help me to be aware of the red flags within me so we can uproot them together so I can live freely and fully in your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.”  

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships

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Day 9: Red Flags in Me #2

‘So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.’ 1 Peter 5:6-7(NLT)

‘The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ Matthew 23:11-12(NLT)

‘Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.’ Galatians 1:10(NLT)

I remember one time when my brother and I were younger, we were playing flag football with our youth group. We ended up getting too competitive and got in a huge fight that day. The fight wasn’t as much about the game as it was about things that were happening under the surface in our hearts. Today, my brother and I love each other and are great friends, but there were things we needed to work out within ourselves that tried to draw us apart. Things like insecurity, comparison, jealousy, or bitterness. 

Most of the tension and relationship problems in our lives don’t have to do with the other person. Truthfully, the tension often comes from within us. It’s much easier to blame our emotions on the actions of someone else rather than to guard our own hearts and own our own reactions. Do you ever deal with the three red flags below? I know I have at different points in life. 

1) You’re constantly comparing yourself to others. 

2) You feel the need to “win” by beating everyone around you. 

3) You feel like everyone is out to get you and are stuck in the fear of man. 

Comparison kills, but contentment in who you are in Christ brings life. Stop looking at other people’s lives with envy and start living your own life! God has a purpose and destiny for you, but you have to stop trying to be like other people and start becoming like Jesus! 

As Christ followers, we win by serving. It’s not about being the best, it’s about humbly serving and sacrificially giving. You never lose by putting others first. You can live secure when you know how much God truly loves you. Abiding in the love of Christ frees you from the fear of man, need for approval, constant comparison, and the hunger to be the best! 

The Bible is not behavior modification, it’s heart transformation. When we encounter Jesus, He doesn’t leave us the same. When God shows us red flags in our lives, it’s to draw us to Him and make us more like Jesus. It’s an invitation to grow mature in our faith. If you relate with any of these red flags, take a moment today to bring them before God. He loves you as you are, but He is too good to leave you there. Surrender every area of your heart to Him and watch as He does what only He can do in your life! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, help me to be content with who you’ve made me to be and to overcome the distraction of comparison. Holy Spirit, work within me and mold me to be more like Christ every day. I surrender my heart and life to you! In Jesus’ name, amen.” 

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships

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Day 8: Red Flags in Me #1

‘So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ‘ Colossians 1:9-12(NLT)

‘When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.’ Psalms 94:19(NLT)

‘Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ‘ Galatians 6:2(NLT)

‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.’ Hebrews 10:24-25(NLT)

I heard a story about a young boy in Texas who found a rattlesnake in his toilet. As if that isn’t horrible enough, when the snake remover came to take care of the issue, he found 24 more rattlesnakes living underneath their house. What lies beneath the surface will eventually find its way out into the open. 

It’s the same way with our lives—what lies underneath the surface of your heart? James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” 

The issues outside of us all stem from the battles within us. We’ve looked at red flags in dating, red flags in marriage, and now it’s time to look at the red flags in us. Most of the conflict we face comes from something deep within our hearts. In our fast-paced culture, it’s hard to stop, reflect, and look inward to the true condition of our hearts. Below are three red flags you might find in yourself:

1) You’ve stopped wanting to grow in your relationship with God and just feel stagnant.

2) You stop feeling excitement, passion, sadness, or any type of emotion and just feel numb.

3) You start to withdraw from the people you love. 

How are you doing emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically? Is your heart full of joy and peace or fear and anger? If you have any of the red flags we covered today in your life, take courage; you’re in good company. Many of the characters in the Bible had red flags to spot, deal with, and overcome as well. 

If you see red flags in your heart, I want to encourage you that it’s possible to change. You don’t have to stay where you are. Remember that God loves you, He has a calling for your life, and you’re in His hands. He’s got you. Take some time to rest, get quiet, and be alone with Jesus. Let Him refresh your soul as you bring up some things that are underneath the surface to your Father so He can bring freedom and healing! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, help me to see the red flags within me so I can make changes and grow into all that you’ve called me to be. I want to become more like Jesus, so work in me to mold me and make me into His image! I surrender my heart to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships

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Day 7: Red Flags in Marriage #3

‘Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ‘ Colossians 3:13(NLT)

‘For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Living by the Spirit’s Power
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ‘ Galatians 5:14-16(NLT)

‘Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.’ Proverbs 16:24(NLT)

“A happy marriage is a union of two good forgivers.”  —Ruth Graham 

Marriage would be so much easier if husbands and wives realized they’re on the same side. No great marriage is healthy because of chemistry or because you marry your “soulmate”—great marriages are only healthy when you choose to work on them. It’s two imperfect people going through the process of becoming one through loads of forgiveness. 

When we stop intentionally investing time to work on our marriages, we can find ourselves slowly growing apart. The little things can make a great difference—good or bad. The little weekly date nights change everything, tiny grudges and resentments bring big issues, and little words can build up or tear down! Let’s look at our last three red flags in marriage: 

1) You stop making an effort to spend quality time together. 

2) You stop apologizing. 

3) The daily tone changes to increased sarcasm, put downs, and complaining. 

So, what can we do when we see one of those red flags? Spend quality time together, learn to apologize, and change the tone of your heart and mouth toward one another. Quality time is essential to a fulfilling and happy relationship. Weekly date nights can make all the difference. Your spouse is meant to be your best friend—your partner through life—but that can only happen if you’re making memories together and carving out time from the business of life to be together. 

Forgiveness is key. Don’t let bitterness grow in your heart against the one that you love. Guard your heart because out of it flows all the issues of life! Take a step forward and forgive! Finally, what’s the tone in your heart and words toward your marriage? How do you see your spouse? Maybe it’s time to ask God to give you a new perspective on your marriage. Make changes today to love your spouse the way they need to be loved. 

If you resonate with any of these red flags, it’s time to look inward at how you can change, address the mess, repent, forgive one another, resolve negative feelings daily, commit to pursue each other with fun and passion, renew your vows, and pray together to ask Heaven to invade your marriage! It’s a process, but it’s absolutely worth it! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, I commit my marriage to you. Today, I choose to walk in forgiveness. Help us to start fresh and keep our eyes and hearts fixed on your Son. Work in me to see my spouse the way you see them and to love them the way you love them. In Jesus’ name, amen.” 

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships

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Day 6: Red Flags in Marriage #2

‘Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!’ 2 Corinthians 10:12(NLT)

‘Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.’ Ephesians 4:29(NLT)

‘The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord .’ Proverbs 18:22(NLT)

‘Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ‘ Genesis 2:18(NLT)

Familiarity can be a dangerous thing. It’s easy to become familiar with the things that matter most: God, His Church, marriage, family…the list goes on. Truthfully, familiarity has killed more marriages than adultery. When we are familiar with something, we treat it as common. 

If we think we know everything about our spouse, we stop pursuing them with fresh curiosity and passion. When familiarity is taken too far, it causes married couples to become better roommates than life partners full of love, intimacy, and friendship. Let’s look at three red flags that come from familiarity:

1) You start to treat each other as common.

2) Neither of you have said “I love you” in a long time. 

3) Either of you begin to constantly compare one another or your relationships to other couples. 

If we’re not intentional, before we know it, we can drift away from the person we hold so dearly. You don’t often realize you’re drifting in the moment. That’s why with everything that’s important to us—our relationship with God, our marriages, our families, our callings—we must be daily engaged and attentive to the truth! 

Let’s never become too familiar with the one we love. Let’s look for ways to connect with them again today by asking new questions, planning a fun date night, or expressing your love and appreciation. If the red flags of familiarity are waving in your face, bring it before God and make a decision to live with your eyes wide open in wonder as you are reminded of all the things you love and appreciate about your marriage! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, help me to never have a spirit of familiarity toward you, my spouse, my family, or my life! Help me to live fully awake and in tune with your Spirit, and if I’ve drifted, show me the way back to your plan and purpose for my marriage. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships

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Day 5: Red Flags in Marriage #1

‘For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. ‘ Galatians 5:13(NLT)

‘Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Genesis 2:22-24(NLT)

‘“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”’ Matthew 19:4-6(NLT)

“Marriage may be the closest thing to Heaven or Hell that any of us will ever know on this earth.”  —Edwin Louis Cole

Let’s address the state of the union…of marriage, that is! If you have a healthy marriage, it’s one of the greatest blessings. If you have an unhealthy marriage, it’s one of the greatest burdens. God created us to have satisfying, thriving, purposeful marriages that push the Kingdom of God forward. In order to do so, we need to be aware of red flags that come up in our relationships, not so we can run away, but so we can work through them, so they grow secure and strong. 

Healthy marriages have healthy habits. Habits determine the outcome of your life. They’re required behaviors and repeated patterns. No marriage is just naturally great. A good, solid marriage takes intentional work from both husband and wife! 

In the best way possible, marriage sucks the selfishness out of us. If your marriage is amazing, has room for improvement, or is on the brink of disaster, I believe God can speak to every single one of us the next three days as we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand. Let’s look at the first three red flags in marriage to be aware of: 

1) You stop serving one another. 

2) One spouse wants to control everything all the time. 

3) Blaming one another becomes a regular response. 

Marriage was a part of God’s plan from the beginning. Without Eve, Adam was left lacking. Marriage shapes us more into the likeness of Christ, causes us to grow in every area of life, and fulfills the desires of our hearts for intimacy and community. In a Christ-centered marriage, we are fully known and fully loved…it’s a reflection of the unconditional love of God. 

If you see any of the red flags covered today in your marriage, it’s not a sign to run, give up, or hide, but rather a call to honesty and commitment. Have a conversation with your spouse about areas and ways you want to see your marriage grow. Bring it before God together in prayer. See a counselor if that’s needed to bring health and healing. With God, any broken piece can be redeemed and restored! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, I commit my marriage to you. Show us areas that we need to grow in, draw us closer to one another, and make us more like Jesus. I pray you would work in our hearts and help us to have a marriage that reflects your love to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships

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Day 4: Red Flags in Relationships #3

‘That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.’ Ephesians 4:8-13(NLT)

‘Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.’ Ephesians 4:29(NLT)

‘For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ‘ 2 Corinthians 3:17(NLT)

I remember being interested in a girl at the university I went to before I met my amazing wife. I kept asking her to go on a date, and she kept turning me down. But every time after she said no, she would say this one little line that I never understood: “I don’t want to go out with you right now, but try again later and we’ll see.” 

What does that even mean? I spent way too much time waiting around and wallowing in self-pity because she didn’t like me but wanted me to stick around. Eventually, I got alone with God and poured my heart out to Him. He helped me to move on by promising that He had someone amazing in store for me and that girl was my beautiful wife. Praise God!

The girl that I thought I wanted was full of red flags for me in that season. Why? Because God had someone waiting for me on the other side. Don’t settle for someone who isn’t in love with you! Don’t play games with someone who is manipulative, critical, or makes you feel less than. Be on the lookout for these three red flags in potential partners: 

1) They want to hide things from you, or you want to hide your relationship with them from others. 

2) They are often critical of you. 

3) They are controlling, pushy, and manipulative. 

If you’re tired of dating and have experienced heartbreak after heartbreak, don’t give up. God’s got great plans for you. He loves to fulfill the desires of your heart. The most important thing to look for in a spouse is a genuine love for God. Keep your heart full of hope and hold onto His promises! 

He’s got your back. Don’t back down from disappointment or discouragement. Live your life fully right now. Follow Jesus with your whole heart exactly where you are. Start that business, buy that house, take that trip! Love God with all you have, love the people around you, love yourself, and love your season.   

Pray with Me: “Heavenly Father, help me to live in this season fully right now and enjoy this time before marriage. I dedicate myself fully to You! Show me if there are any red flags to be aware of in dating and help me to walk in the path You have for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

from Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On Relationships