{"id":367,"date":"2011-09-08T03:52:15","date_gmt":"2011-09-08T03:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gospelriver.com\/sharingchrist\/?p=367"},"modified":"2011-12-01T18:55:38","modified_gmt":"2011-12-01T18:55:38","slug":"encouragement-for-single-christians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gospelriver.com\/sharingchrist\/encouragement-for-single-christians\/","title":{"rendered":"55. Encouragement for single Christians"},"content":{"rendered":"

from a single Christian<\/em><\/p>\n

Click for Hymns for the Lonely YouTube Playlist<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(Listen while you read)<\/p>\n

Jesus fills the gap<\/h2>\n

Are you lonely?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\n“He hath said, I will never leave thee” (Heb 13:5).
\nHe sends you flowers every spring, and He won’t forget about you. Meditate on Him.<\/strong> (Matthew 6:30)<\/p>\n

Do you wish you could spend an evening watching the sunset with your beloved?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nRemember that your greatest Lover made the sunset for you to enjoy. Watch it with Him.<\/strong> (1Tim. 6:17)<\/p>\n

Do you wish you could walk hand in hand with your beloved?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nRemember the One who holds your hand and says, “Fear not” (Isaiah 41:13). You are in His hand (John 10:28). Walk with Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you long for children to love, teach and nurture for God?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nSeek to win souls for Christ, and you will find that you have children to love, teach and nurture (1Cor. 4:15). Witness for Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you long to look into the eyes of your beloved?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nAnticipate that day when you “shall see His face” (Rev. 22:4). Wait and watch expectantly for Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you long to have someone to share your love and secrets with?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nCherish time in secret with your Bridegroom in heaven (John 14:21). Talk with Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus is what none other can ever be<\/h2>\n

Earthly partners will fall short. They will never satisfy the deepest needs of your soul. Only Christ can truly fill and satisfy the heart, and only He is perfectly suited to meet your need. Give your heart to Him<\/strong> in worship, and He will fill it to overflowing.<\/p>\n

The love of an earthly partner may grow dim. The love of Christ is unchanging<\/strong>, enduring<\/strong>, unending<\/strong>, and beyond our understanding<\/strong> (Rom. 8:39, Eph. 3:19).<\/p>\n

An earthly partner may not be attentive to your needs. Christ, your Great High Priest, is ever aware of your need, and is touched by your feelings and necessities (Heb. 4:15).<\/p>\n

An earthly partner gives a precious ring. Christ gave His priceless life for you, and gave the Spirit as the guarantee of your inheritance (Eph. 5:25, 1:14).<\/p>\n

Who made your heart with the capability to love? Who is love in Himself? Surely in Him is love to satisfy the most thirsty soul, and there could be no greater lover than Love Himself.<\/p>\n

Jesus is the greatest Lover<\/h2>\n

The Lord Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” John 14:21.<\/p>\n

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23.<\/p>\n

“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” John 17:26.<\/p>\n

The love of the Lord Jesus is a personal<\/strong>, individual<\/strong> love. He would have gone to Calvary just for you. Each individual is important to Him, as if there were no one else but you.<\/p>\n

The love of the Lord is a constant<\/strong>, ever-present love. You need only seek Him to know that love is there.<\/p>\n

Spend time with your Beloved today, and tell Him how much He means to you.<\/p>\n

Songs to sing when you’re feeling lonely<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

His eye is on the sparrow<\/a>
\nGive me Jesus<\/a>
\nLean on Me<\/a>
\nOh, the deep, deep love of Jesus<\/a>
\nDeep, deep love version 2<\/a>
\n Oh love, that will not let me go<\/a>
\nYou’ll never walk alone<\/a>
\nTurn your eyes upon Jesus<\/a>
\nEagles Wings<\/a>
\nAbove all<\/a>
\nAs the deer<\/a>
\nMore precious than silver<\/a>
\nHow deep the Father’s love for us<\/a>
\nO glorious love<\/a>
\nPower of Your love<\/a>
\nMy Jesus I love Thee<\/a>
\nThere is none like You<\/a><\/p>\n

Dealing with inner struggles<\/h2>\n

<\/strong>Pride expects things for myself, as if I deserved them, and consequently has no reason to be thankful. Humility understands that God’s\u00a0favor and blessings are undeserved, and every good and perfect gift comes from His loving hand.<\/p>\n

Appreciation for living for God can be seen in an African missionary’s words,\u00a0“Say not sacrifice<\/strong>, but privilege<\/strong>.” The Lord Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him take up his cross, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). That is sacrifice<\/strong>. The early disciples rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer for His name. That is privilege<\/strong>. Following Christ is a privilege, and it will mean showing our love to Christ by giving up things that we naturally want for ourselves, out of love to Him.\u00a0I wonder if my spiritual condition is such that I could do the same? When we can, Christ will grow nearer in our hearts, and we will have learned an invaluable lesson that will put us in good stead the rest of our lives, whether married or single.<\/p>\n

We need to understand that all things are in God’s control (Ephesians 1:11). If I am single, then He has allowed that or determined that for a purpose. It is not my place to blame my all-knowing, all-powerful Guide and Lord, but to accept the will of the One who called me to serve Him.<\/p>\n

With whatever trying circumstance, one can seek to forget, busy oneself with activity, rise above it, drown in it, or, in contrast, accept it from God. Elizabeth Elliot included a poem by Amy Carmichael in her book\u00a0Loneliness: It can be a Wilderness. It can be a Pathway to God<\/a>\u00a0(also here<\/a>?)<\/em>\u00a0included below:<\/p>\n

For in Acceptance Lieth Peace<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/strong>He said, “I will forget the dying faces;
\nThe empty places,
\nThey shall be filled again.
\nO voices moaning deep within me, cease.”
\nBut vain the word; vain, vain:
\nNot in forgetting<\/em> lieth peace.<\/p>\n

He said, “I will crowd action upon action,
\nThe strife of faction
\nShall stir me and sustain;
\nO tears that drown the fire of manhood, cease.”
\nBut vain the word; vain, vain:
\nNot in endeavor<\/em> lieth peace.<\/p>\n

He said, “I will withdraw me and be quiet,
\nWhy meddle in life’s riot?
\nShut be my door to pain.
\nDesire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease.”
\nBut vain the word; vain, vain:
\nNot in aloofness<\/em> lieth peace.<\/p>\n

He said, “I will submit; I am defeated.
\nGod hath depleted
\nMy life of its rich gain.
\nO futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?”
\nBut vain the word; vain, vain:
\nNot in submission<\/em> lieth peace.<\/p>\n

He said, “I will accept the breaking sorrow
\nWhich God tomorrow
\nWill to His son explain.”
\nThen did the turmoil deep within him cease.
\nNot vain the word, not vain;
\nFor in Acceptance<\/em><\/strong> lieth peace.<\/p>\n

– Amy Carmichael<\/em><\/p>\n

Why might God desire for me to be single?<\/h2>\n

We don’t always know God’s reasons. But here are a few ideas that could be reasons for singleness:<\/p>\n