Linda and me on our wedding day in May 1979.

My teenage years were quit tumultuous. My parents got divorced, mom and I had to move from the old neighborhood into some apartments, and I lost touch with the neighborhood kids.
Even when all of us ended up in the same high school, that camaraderie we once had was gone.

As mentioned in a previous Thought, I ended up with some new friends, some of which I still keep in touch with today; but one thing I really wanted was a girlfriend.

I wasn’t really a good looking guy. I wasn’t one of those macho-jock types from the football field that seemed to have a pretty girl hanging off their arm.
I wanted someone to hold hands with, go to the movies with, and call “my girlfriend”.

I dated a few girls here and there but I guess I wanted something more permanent; something everlasting.
After my salvation my thought about a relationship changed. I became more intent to find someone that believed like I did, though my own belief was a baby Christian.
Some of the guys that worked with me in construction wanted to fix me up but I was leery at what they had in mind. I wasn’t looking for just a physical relationship – I wanted a lasting relationship.

When I moved to East Texas I began going to church I noticed a young lady three years younger than me.
To make a long story short I ended up visiting with her and her family at her house since she couldn’t date.
Once that restriction was lifted we started dating.
It was a rocky relationship at best.

As my Christian maturity grew I learned more about seeking God’s will for my life, including my relationships. I learned to fast and pray.
It was during this time that I felt God telling me that this young lady was the one for me.
This was at a time when we were not seeing each other.
It was also three years before we got married.

I firmly believe that if more Christian’s sought God’s will in a relationship they would find out that it’s more than attraction and sex; it’s about serving and seeking God in the relationship.
I believe there would be fewer divorces and problems.

When it came time to get a wife for his son, Abraham sent a servant away from the pagans of the land and back to where his own family had settled.

After making the long, tiring journey, the servant was at a loss at how to go about finding a suitable wife for his master’s son, Isaac.
“O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.” Gen 24:12-14

That is exactly what happened and thus began one of the greatest, long lasting love stories of the Bible – Isaac and Rebekah.

God still answers prayers, including for relationships.
You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:2-3

Seek to honor God in your relationship!