In Christ, we live in this world, but thankfully not of it.  We go not by the opinions, descriptions and images of men about us that tend to imprison us.  Instead, we believe in the truth that God’s definition of us is our powerful and dynamic provision that brings forth freedom.

Oppositions along the way are inevitable.  What matters most is how to respond to them in ways not to bring division among ourselves, but to make us grow deeper in our relationship with God and to furnish an invitation for others to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, yet experientiable and explorable.   We regard resistance as tools to hone and refine us into who God created us to be for all things work together for our good.

The first battlefield that we have is in our minds.  Whatever it is that we see or hear that affects our identity busies our intellect.  Initially we find ways and means to combat them in and of ourselves.  When our defense mode is triggered, our minds can take us to places we never thought we could go.  Before we know it, pessimism already consumed us and when it does, discouragement comes and disqualification sets in. 

Thanks be to God Who ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ.  He is rich in mercy and abounding in His love for you and me.  He has given us His full armor to overcome not just the opposing forces of darkness but to wage war against our unrenewed minds.   The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God in pulling down strongholds that exalt itself against the knowledge of God.   

What is He thinking of us?  What is His mind full of when it comes to us?  When we find the answer in His Word specifically and personally spoken to us, this should become our shield to protect us and sword to push away those discrediting words that are trying to build their nests in our minds.  We are to be mindful that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

” ³For though we walk in the world, we do not fight according to this world’s rules of warfare. ⁴ The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth. ⁵ We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Voice)

This is the reason why it is imperative to do this “ONE THING!” that David taught us.  “ONE THING have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4 AMPC)

Jesus also showed us this ONE THING in Mary’s life.   Martha had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching, while she was overly occupied and distracted by much serving.  She told Jesus to ask Mary to help her, but Jesus replied, “Only ONE THING is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42 AMP)

When we are challenged by what we see or hear, let us put in remembrance this ONE THING, for the Lord our God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. His Answer is what splinters the biggest of trees and the mighty cedars of Lebanon like matchsticks as we speak His Word into existence. His Word pulverizes anything that is of utmost resistance that exalts itself against what He has spoken of us and to us when we declare it mixed with faith and full conviction in our hearts.

In my 55 years of existence, I oftentimes come across people who ask me why I am still single. Hmmmm … at times I would reply with a smile. Or … no one has yet noticed me 🙂 Or … the Lord has hidden me until the right one comes along 🙂 Or … it may be His will for me stay single but blessed and whole in Him, never alone. It really depends on my discernment as to the purpose of why I am being asked.

Being and living single never really bothered me as I know that our wholeness, completeness and satisfaction are found in Christ alone. I love the thought of having freedom in being able to do as He leads me to without consulting or considering someone else’s decision. I do not feel alone knowing that His indwelling presence fills me and overflows through me. It is a unique kind of life, just as everyone else, whether married, single or widow, is cut out according to His will for each one of us. When we are where we are and who we are, being at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, with the right heart, being right with God by GRACE through faith, that’s all that matters.

But one time, while I was being asked and I saw the expression of the person’s face that was not so pleasant to see, followed by more “Why’s”, it did bother me. Do you have the desire to get married? If so, why didn’t you do something about it? Do you ever go to places to meet someone? Hmmmm … what can I say? How do I respond? Do I really need to engage myself to every question?

At times, I couldn’t help but feel judged by one’s inquisitiveness that there is something wrong with me just because I am not like them or not like others, married. Oh yes, opposing forces are real. Welcome to planet earth hahaha! And yes, such condemnation stayed in my mind for a day or two while I was waiting upon the Lord’s fresh revelation of my identity of being single. I inquired of Him and desired to be rooted and grounded on what His response would be. I longed for the “NOW” Word that would crush and crumble those discouraging and depressing words. In the silence of my heart, I knew He will bring out the answer and speak.

My definition of single is never alone if one is in Christ, but a married one could possibly be if the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords is not resident in him or her. It all boils down to having an intimate relationship with Him. It’s like a branch that is connected to the Vine from which life freely flows. I know I am not or never alone because He is with me ALWAYS just as He promised. He dwells inside of me never leaving me nor forsaking me. His eyes are upon me, His ears ever ready to listen to me and His hands upholding me. But it is the very way how to respond to people that will leave them a positive mark and outlook towards singles is what I am after of, although we may have different responses to this kind of inquiry. A personally revealed truth of His Word is what I desire. At the same time, allowing His truth to dig deeper into my heart will set my identity sturdier in Him.

Soon after, He opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my heart to receive the implanted Word of God that is able to save my soul (my mind, will and emotions).

“⁴Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
    be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
    and the reproach of your widowhood (for me – singlehood) you will remember no more.
⁵ For your Maker is your Husband,
    the Lord of hosts is His name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
    the God of the whole earth He is called.” (Psalm 54:4-5 ESV)

Oh what an awesome answer the Lord gave me. I couldn’t ask for more confirmations 🙂 Thank You, Jesus, for Being the Lover of my soul, my Husband, my Maker, my Redeemer. Truly, the truth of Your Word sets us free. Once free in the Son of God, we are free indeed.

Once we hear Him speak, everything changes.  We live because He speaks with such love and compassion, with specificity and power that targets the very thing we need to annihilate from our minds and shoots adrenalin into our souls.  We are cleansed because He speaks.  We are refreshed because He speaks.  We are encouraged because He speaks.  We are enlightened because He speaks.  We are strengthened because He speaks.  Indeed, “Man shall not live by bread alone,. but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

What we see, hear and receive we nurture and cultivate, like an incorruptible seed planted in the fertile soil of our hearts. We keep watering it by our declarations, giving voice to His Word, until something powerful happens from deep within. As the seed’s pod opens and life starts to sprout out, we enter in a new ball game as it grows in the growth that only comes from God. When the seed’s life fills our hearts, out of the abundance of it, our mouths speak with authority.

Our victory or even our defeat are VOICE ACTIVATED! We shall declare a thing and it shall be established. Where the word of a king is, there is power. Where the word of the priest is, it settles assaults and controversies. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation, His own special possession, thus, our words have power. Death and life are in the power of our tongues. Thus, we speak what we received and what was revealed to us, for we cannot fight a thought with a thought. We fight our thoughts by the words that we hear ourselves speak with faith.

We speak His Word that is specific and absolute what heaven has already declared and spoken.  We loose on earth what must have been loosed in heaven and echo it in our own personal situations.  We speak to our challenges with authority in Jesus’ Name based on what we heard and received from the secret place.  Let heaven’s resonance silence the voice of the enemy and not allow it to speak back to us any longer, making His Word as the final authority in our lives.

Our obedience to His Word of truth is what resists the enemy’s lies. His Word says, “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us.” (James 4:7) Submission to God is subjecting ourselves to His Word.  God wants our victory to come from what He is speaking, for His Word is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

His Word spoken intimately to us is where His power is. What we resound that carries the fragrance from His throne is what rebukes and destroys the opposition. His personal instruction to us is what delivers us from the wiles of the enemy. We do not assume by what we know. We seek Him and the cure to transcend into His thoughts of us is to renew our thinking by abiding in Him and His Word. It is His spoken Word that leads us to divine conclusion and sets us free.

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32)

And so, the demeaning, degrading and disproving thoughts that tried to set foot in my mind were dissipated, regarded of no effect and non-existent by the power of His Word and my identity of being single will assuredly be sustained by the Word of His power, unless my earthly status changes as He wills it 🙂 The battle in my mind has been won! The war is over. I have been equipped. It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Living God, the indwelling resurrection power of Christ.

As for the one who asked me those unending questions, I chose to bless her and pray for her for my heart to be free. Praying and blessing a person is God’s love language in and through us that enable our eyes to have a different perspective of them, a godly viewpoint of them. This is what brings unity and defies division among oursleves.

Truly, the Holy Spirit knows all things, the deep things of God and where He is Lord, there is liberty. Once freed, a new song is birthed to praise the one Who is worthy.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him.”  (Psalm 40:3)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for always revealing and reassuring me of who I am before Your very eyes with much love and compassion.  What a fortifying way to uplift me when my identity is stained by what I see and hear.   Thank You, Jesus, for securing my heavenly identity in You and Your finished work in which nothing and no one can reverse.  Your precious blood still speaks to today, keeping me set apart in Your name, holy and blameless before You.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for speaking God’s Word into the depths of my heart, making it come alive as You breathe life in it.  Indeed, in Your light, I see light.  Amen!