Seek the Lord First | (Guest Post by Sarah)

Hey, everyone! I know it's been a good while since I published a post--with all that has been going on in my house this summer, I haven't had a lot of time to write. However, I am going to be working on some new posts when I get back from a missions trip to the Dominican Republic and things slow down a bit!
This week, I have one of my best friends from Ohio visiting me. We have been talking a lot this week about growing up and living fully for God. Sarah is an amazing girl, and I am so grateful to have her as one of my closest friends! She is funny, cheerful, kind, but most of all, she is on fire for the Lord. I have been greatly encouraged by her. That is why I am SO excited to have her here on my blog today to encourage you! She has graciously put in so much time and effort for this post, and I hope you come away blessed!

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~ Proverbs 19:21~

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 

I turned 18 a mere six days ago, and I think (and sometimes stress about) graduation, college, a job, and my future in general. I tend to forget God and His sovereignty in my life. Especially when it comes to guys. A few months ago, I think I had just about convinced myself that at my age, thinking about guys all the time was not only natural but also was okay. After all, I thought, I’m going to get married SOMETIME, so I can’t just not always think about guys.  

That mindset was WRONG. Totally wrong. But it was also exactly what the culture around me and you thinks.

One day, though, my thinking about the whole guy thing changed forever, and it was all because of two simple verses from the Bible that I had never read before. 1 Corinthians 7:34-35 says, “There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”  

We are supposed to…

Be focused on and prioritize the things of Lord

Be holy, both physically and spiritually

Be totally committed to our relationship with Lord

NOT be caught up in the things of the world (which is anything that hinders or distracts us from God, like guys, clothes, make up, video games, friends, school, exercise, or social media - all of which I am guilty of being distracted by…)

These two verses are God’s direction specifically to US as Christian young people. We should take them to heart first of all because they’re a command of God and because, according to the verse, this instruction is for our own good - “this I speak for your own profit”.

So why did these verses change my life? Once I read them, I knew what I should be doing with my life. Until God sees fit to bring my future husband and I together (whoever he might be), I am to focus on the Lord and the Lord alone, not the guys around me. I try to remember this verse: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth - Colossians 3:1-2. And even though I sometime get distracted by other things in my life (e.g. looking around for the “the one”), with lots of God’s help, I am working on becoming the best Christian woman I can be. So if I would leave one thought with you, it would be this…

Grow in your relationship with the Lord. Wait on the Lord’s perfect timing and plan for you, and he will “bring all things to pass."