Richer living
for single Christians:
A Singles Survival Guide, by Diane Kingston
God loves you where you are
God is Good - ‘"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"’ Jeremiah 29 v 11. Write down all the ways God has shown his love for you. This could include your friends, job, health, special moments, miracles, good times in previous relationships. Dig out photographs and find mementoes to remind you of this.
List all the benefits of being single. This might include that you can eat when, where & what you want, that you can go on holiday when & where you want, and that sometimes there is no need to consult someone else over any decisions however major or minor.
Keep a "treasure book" to store and remind you of special moments. This is intended as more of a scrap book than a diary, and you could use it to keep things like photographs, tickets, words of prayers and songs.
Life was once described to me as like a Fair Isle sweater. In the sweater, if any colour is missing or over accentuated then the pattern is spoiled or unbalanced. If a thread is missing then there will be holes. In the comparison with life, each colour in the pattern on the sweater represents a different aspect of our life. Look at the aspects of your life and see if you are placing more emphasis on any one of them. It may be your anxiety to find a partner, putting too much emphasis on work, or being too independent and not seeking help when appropriate. Think about how a balance might be achieved and where you might start.
Practise being as contented as you can be in the situation that God has placed you in for the moment, rather than feeling defeated. Paul wrote "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4 verses 12-13)
If you feel alone, remember that God has known you since before you were conceived. When David praised God for the creation of his life he finished by saying "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139 verse 13 to 16. Remember too that He cares for you: "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered" (Luke 12 verse 7).
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Copyright©Diane Kingston 2001