The beatitude Blessed are the Pure in Heart has been one of my favorite beatitudes and a close 2nd Blessed are the Meek.

I know in marriage you  have to have both of those qualities to be able to have a good marriage. Purity of heart will keep you in God's will. Pure of heart people will choose God's choice for a mate because they are patient.

Having pure motives in your relationships these days is a challege. In a society where the thought of the day is "how can this benefit me?" how can we ever see God's hand working in our life when we are self focused. We have distorted vision. God's hand works slowly and our culture is about quick and fast.

Jesus' has always been about sacrifical love. His mission was about helping others grow and heal. To be pure of heart you must leave your selfish motives in the marriage relationship with the devil. I now constantly mentally check myself. What are my motives here Andrea? Many times they are less than pure. Pride, want of ease , anger or selfishness like to take over if we don't cast them down. In marriage I think those mental checks need to be in place at all times. If we don't analyze our motives or willlingly look at our own sin head on, I don't think we can be properly prepared for marriage. Pure of heart and meek people will look and confess those sins without condemnation.

In my early years even as a christian I had a world mentality. I believe God has not sent me a mate thus far because of that reason. He had to grow me into a new way of thinking .  Purity of heart and meekness is a process that doesn't happen overnight in most people. I probably would of been a divorce statisic if I would have married. I'm not proud of that but thankful that God knows best when the time for me to marry is. He must have some more growing to do! I'm always a work in progress. He reveals new things about my character or lack there off when I'm ready to look. God help me to get real and come clean with you!

I heard a good definition of  the word meek. Power under control. Like the power of a horse that has been broken. The power is there but it yeilds to it's master. In a marriage if there is a lack of meekness there will be a lack of harmony. Submission to each other will be very a difficult task. I pray the Lord will make me meek to prepare me to be submissive for a marriage. Especially my mouth.  Lord make my mouth meek and give me the strength to bite my tongue when something prideful wants to rear its ugly head. 

How many marriages are destroyed because of a lack of meek mouths. Lord make my mind, heart, soul, and mouth meek for my husband. May my meek heart be a joy to be around. God opposes the proud and exalts the meek! May I always remember that.

Most of my life I had the idea that I was supposed to make things happen. That was my foolish pride thinking for me. It was definetely true in my dating life. I would strategically place myself next to the cute guy at a church singles function and get a conversation going. Time after time I would be disappointed and emotionally worn out either because they didn't feel anything for me or I would find out that they were not that match I was looking for. God has a time for everything and the time right now for me is to surrender and know God's providence will bring me a mate if He sees fit.

After attending a bible study for singles called Singles Pleasing The Lord I decided to give up dating and instead be lead by the Holy Spirit. Our married leader did not date for 14 years. Then God gave her the green light to move forward with her now husband. She said "you don't have to ever have a bad date again. If the Holy spirit is leading you, you won't go out with the wrong people in the first place." I felt so much peace after making this decision not to date. No more bad dates! Thank you God!

I'm always challenged  by people, "how can you meet anyone if your not dating?" I tell them "I'm not saying this is for everyone, but this is what God is wanting from me." If in the bible God used camels and water to get Rebekah and Isaac together God can use anything." (Quoting my bible study teacher.) I then tell them, "I'm not sure how it will work. I will get to know people first in group settings and God will do the rest." I say this all in faith.

I heard an inspiring story at a singles conference about a woman who was passionately involved in the pro life ministry. She some how ended up in jail because of a protest she was in. A man read about her story and was so impressed by her he decided he wanted to visit her in jail. You guessed it ! They ended up falling in love and getting married. So even if you're in a jail God can work it out. When its your time, it's your time. Our times are in His hands!