Pauline’s Notebook

This is an extract from a talk written for the Gracepoint FCG Womens Group. It has being broken down into 4 parts. To read from the beginning of the talk, click on the link to part I.

Developing the purity of relationships in the best possible way.

This is how you can develop purity in your relationships in the best possible way. Fill you time understanding and working on your graciousness, your compassion, your patience, gentleness and humility towards others. What does it mean to be gentle at home? What does it mean to be gracious? Who do you need to be patient with now? Who can you extend your compassion to this week? Work at how to show unconditional love towards your brother, your sister, your mum and dad as well as to your friends or work colleagues. Learn to relate healthily with the guys at church using these qualities rather then on how you look. For those already in a relationship, keep working on the romance and the love affections. Fill your time with your boyfriend doing fun and exciting things both of you enjoy. If its sport then do all those outdoor activities. For others, its going for long walks. In others, its the pleasure of cooking up a meal together or eating out and trying out new foods. Fill your time communicating with him and renewing your minds together by praying and reading the bible. Pray for this constantly between the two of you – that…. whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. (Philippians 4:8).

Conclusion

I know the pressure is there…Let me share with you what someone recently shared with me. She says…I honestly find it getting harder being a single 23 year old who wants so much to follow Jesus and be a servant for His kingdom, and yet have all my girlish desires. To want to be loved and cherished by another, to want to have children to dote on etc etc. I wonder what God has in store for me, a companion to walk with me through life, together into deeper love for Jesus…? This is such a faith journey for me, and sometimes, I admit the social pressures I get from this world shakes me a little. Its easier to settle for less, than to wait for something more… I’ll say it again… its easier to settle for less, than to wait for something more. So, I pray that as the world continues to shake you, resist the urge to settle for less. Jesus did not die for you to settle for less. He has already given you the best of Himself – his life. And He will give you even more as you trust in him and follow Him faithfully.

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, as your children, help us to be aware of and say no to sexual immorality in the way we dress, what we read or watch and the way we act towards the opposite sex. Help us to know and believe that You alone are enough for us and is our greatest delight and joy. Help us to replace our precious time filling our minds with things above and loving our family and our friends, building on the good things that lasts. For those in a relationship, help us to especially replace our precious time together building on the good things that lasts. Amen.