Single and NOT So Ready to Mingle

After the recent (and continuous trials) with my ex, a romantic relationship should be the last thing on my mind, but I constantly dream about companionship.  A good friend pointed out to me that my love for Christ must first be my all and all.  That being single is a part of the preparation for whatever he has for me.  This morning I read the following verse:

“That you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:20 NIV)

So many phrases jump out at me in this verse:

“love the Lord your God”  “listen to His voice”  “hold fast to Him” “For the Lord is your life”.  These are all reminders of the life I should be living. A life that demonstrates a sincere love for God, not only hearing his voice but listening to it and being obedient (I struggle with this so much. If it’s not Satan tempting me then it is my old nature rebelling).  In my life I should be clinging to God and never separating from His ways so that the relationship we have established together can be strengthened.  My life is in Christ. The center of my joy should be Jesus.  Christ must be my king and I must be content with my relationship with Him before I can be blessed with romantic companionship. 

Rick Warren writes that “You must choose to love God; he won’t force you to love him (Deuteronomy 30:20). You can thumb your nose at God and go a totally different way. You can destroy your life if you choose to do that. God still won’t force you to love him, because he knows love can’t be forced.”

I cannot force love—not between myself and another human being nor can I force myself to love God with all my heart, mind, and soul.  That must be developed.  I am ashamed to say that I am pretty far off from 100% loving God throughout my heart, mind, and soul.  But I do not want to stay here. I pray to God that He will reveal what stands in the way of my total commitment to loving Him.  I ask that God will use my single status and these trials I face to develop a passionate love for Him.   May I come to see and remember how great thou art, how much HE truly loves me so that I can willingly repay Him with the same love represented in my living.