“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NIV).
This time of year never fails to divert our minds to the things and people for which we are thankful.
I am thankful for many things, but I am most grateful for meeting a true man of God named Vince this year.
I had dated many great guys in the past, but I had never experienced the feeling of being at peace in a relationship. Like many people, I ignored the red flags and even had a ton of red flags of my own. Even though I wanted to be in a God-approved relationship, I also had a societal view of what I desired that often outweighed what I truly needed. I had watched one too many romantic comedies, so my perception of love was so skewed and muddled in chemistry, butterflies, and the perfect love story.
At the beginning of this year, I embarked on a more profound spiritual journey to know God more and truly put him first. I earnestly sought him. In doing so, inevitably, it changed my dating compass and my whole perspective on men. The more I spent time with God, the more I craved the things of God. The cravings eventually trickled over into my dating life.
When I met Vince for the first time, I was instantly captivated by his sweet spirit and sincere heart that truly seeks God.
Before meeting Vince, I had a list of qualities I wanted in a man. The most important quality I sought after, being assertive. I had always been attracted to men who take charge and take the lead in chivalry and making decisions. I viewed it as a sign of strength and protection.
As we continued dating, I saw that Vince was not only chivalrous, strong, and protective, but he was a leader in the sense that his lifestyle and heart for God sparked a desire within me to draw even closer to God. That is the most significant way you could ever lead someone.
This is the first relationship I have been in where everything about it points back to God. We still have chemistry and the butterfly feelings, but even more significantly, we have God.
We pray for each other. We help each other grow. We set boundaries. We support one another. We respect each other.
We do these things not solely because we love each other, but because we love God.
When you continuously seek God and love him earnestly, you become so full of him. In turn, the qualities that people love about you are the qualities of God.
I am thankful for my relationship with Vince and the opportunity to continue to grow with him. This relationship has taught me the beauty of the things and people we receive when we truly put God first and earnestly seek him.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the relationships I have. Thank you for placing people and things in my life that point me back to you. Give me the grace to continue to put you first in all that I do.
Your Turn: What relationships, and or things are you thankful your life?