By Pastor Tony Guadagnino, Christian Love Fellowship Church

My wife and I have been married for over 14 years now and we have two children (Anthony and Marrina). Life is great and marriage is wonderful, but I can remember before I met my wife, how alone I felt. I want to share a poem I came across that helped me realize that I needed to love God first before I could ever love anyone else. If you are married, I hope you found the love of your life and live together happily ever after (just like I am). If you are not married, or if you know someone who is not married, you can pass this along to them – I pray that this poem touches your heart the same way it did mine.  God has someone just for you.

God’s Message to Singles:

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone – to have a deep soul relationship with another – to be loved thoroughly, and exclusively.

But God, to a Christian, says, “No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone – with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone, discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you be capable of the perfect human relationship I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you’re united with Me – exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longing.

I want you to stop planning, stop wishing and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing ­— one that you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you.

You must keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things – keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM, keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

You just wait. That’s all. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry.

Don’t look around at the things others have gotten, or that I’ve given them.

Don’t look at the things you think you want.

You just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you’ll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you both are satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I have prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love, I want you to see, in the flesh, a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy, materially and concretely, the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I am God.

Believe it and be satisfied.

– Author Unknown

In order to understand courage, you have to first experience fear. Without fear, you will never know if you have courage. Fear is very powerful and can paralyze you if you allow it to take control of your life. If we say that we never fear, then how is it possible to know what courage is? Fear will come, but we must face our fears and conquer them. Never allow fear to defeat you and control your life.

2 KINGS 23:3

3 The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD’s presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

NLT

In 2 Kings 22 and 23, we read that King Josiah was a man who sought after God. However, his life changed when God’s Word was rediscovered. He called the people to a renewed covenant before God (see verse above). God moved through Josiah to crush the wickedness of his country like a hurricane crumbles houses as if they were made out of toothpicks.

Many of us need courage. We try to go through life with a John Wayne swagger, but we’re like milk toast (lacking backbone, not standing up for oneself), desperately in need of some courage. We need to stop whimpering and making excuses and start trusting God and His word. King Josiah died in battle, not running in fear. He was full of courage because of God’s word. How can we be full of courage? By knowing God’s word and following God’s word.

JOSHUA 1:5-7

5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

NLT

We can be strong and courageous by knowing and following the word of God. We get strength and courage from having faith in God and His word. God promised to never leave us and He will always be with us. Stop making excuses and start reading your Bible every day. You know what? You may not battle a thousand, but begin your day by reading God’s word and praying over your life and your family. Decide right now not to allow fear to control you any longer. Many people just focus on their failures and never decide how they are going to start walking in the courage that God has offered to us.  Ask God to fill you with His strength and courage. Do not forget to read the Bible a little every day. God will answer your prayer.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.