Abide and bear fruit

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.  Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  John 15: 4-9

I pray that you would find the courage to abide in the Father and in the great love that He has for you.  While abiding in Him, I pray that you would bear much fruit for His glory; that He would be able to use your life in any and every way that He sees fit to do so, using that fruit.  I pray that you would know the great power that is at your finger tips as you abide in Him.  That you would cling to Him, know His words, and live your life according to all that He has asked of you.  And that you would know the power that is found in asking of Him.  I pray that you would know the incredible, unmatchable love of God.

Deeper Relationship with God

"God never intended for us to go through life alone.  It feels like it sometimes, but every time I get that urge toward self-pity or desperation, I think of it as an invitation for a deeper relationship with God.  The point of life, in marriage or in singleness--even widowhood-- is that it should bring us to that intimate relationship with God.  And that relationship should fill us--all the way up to our secret and ashamed places--so that we are overflowing with love for Him.  Then we stop searching.  Then we are filled with joy."
--Susan May Warren in her book The Shadow of Your Smile, p. 307

I don't know about you, but that is right in line with what God has been teaching me, especially in the last two years.  Life is NOT about whether you are married or single.  It is about the relationship that you have with God, and where you let that relationship take you.  He wants to be your everything.  He alone can fulfill your deepest desires and the longings of your heart.  He alone can love you unconditionally.  He alone has every single answer for every single thing that you go through.  He alone is enough.  But it is a two-way relationship.  He desires that closeness with you, that we sometimes seek out in a relationship with others.  He wants to talk with you on a daily basis, and He will talk to you if you give Him the chance.  There is so much there, available, if you will just tap into it. 
Make Him the priority of your life.  Leave the relationships/details up to Him.  You don't have to go seeking a mate.  When the timing is right, He will bring it all about.  This isn't just for singles either.  The greatest thing you can ever do for your mate (or your future mate) is to make God your everything!  When your relationship with God is in the right place, and you are growing in Him and He is growing in you the potential that He has already put into place in your life, you will be draw others to you, because they will want the peace, joy, contentment, etc that is evident in your life.  Not only will you be the best person you can be for God, you will also be the best person you can be for your mate (future mate).  You will have more chances to share God in the lives of others, more effective for Him to use.  Who wouldn't want that?
What can you do today to grow your relationship with God deeper?  To become that person that He knows you can be, and wants you to become.  What are you letting hold you back?
Surround yourself with people that you want to be like, who exhibit a life sold out for Christ, who share Him with every fiber of your being.  And seek after Him with reckless abandon.  He will be found by you and it will change your life forever! 

Instructions for how God wants me to live

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?  Who may dwell on Your holy hill?  He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; he swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.  He who does these things will never be shaken.  Psalm 15

My prayer for you today is that you would willingly walk in the path that God has for you, and in obedience to all that He asks of you.  While it won't be easy, it will be worth it and it will bring honor to God.  May your life make much of Him!