Mandy and the Mix Up

Mandy Dixon is already twenty-six and still not spoken for. Her only option in sight is her life-long friend, Clyde Anderson, but Clyde advises her to wait for God’s perfect choice. Mandy wants to trust her friend’s counsel, but who ever heard of Divine betrothal? And did God really have someone special picked out for her from the time she was born? Mandy’s about to find out that a mix-up in her past may hold the key to her future.

You've been there, especially if you are from a small town or church. You think "Well I'm getting to that age, the age of marriage." And you start to look around and think "Hum... Maybe they are the one, because I really don't see anyone else my age, here."

If we are not careful this will lead us to focus on one person, instead of the ONE. Or we will secretly start to become discontent at home, thinking that we have to get out into the world to find the right one. The mind might think, How am I going to find the one here, there is no one here. (Samantha and I both are from the same church.)


I didn't always think this way.....

 I can remember thinking, "God hasn't called me away, and Bible college isn't a realistic option at this time in my life. So what should I do?" 

Now at this time in my life no one had ever taught about Divine Betrothal, or even courtship, and so my heart was filled with what I would call a dating spirit. A spirit that caused my heart/mind/thoughts to jump from girl to girl. To give pieces of my heart away emotionally.

I can remember thinking maybe "she" is the one. Then I would go talk to my pastor and he would advise me to wait, fast and pray about it. And I would go away kind of discouraged knowing  it was not God's will and knowing my pastor didn't believe it was God's will either.

 Then wouldn't you know it, God would shut the door in that area (to protect me, and help me keep my heart for Samantha, though I didn't know it at the time). So then in my foolish mind I would think "Ok not 'her' so then maybe 'her.'" ---- What a silly cycle, I was in. I am so grateful the Lord protected me, from going down the wrong road.

 Each time you think of another "her" that might be "the one". You will make the big mistake of seeking to get to know her and try to be what you think "she" likes. It leads to being deceptive all in the name of "love". Trying to pretending to be what you think a particular person wants, and trying to make them like you, is not fair to them and not fair to you. It causes a person to mold their personality to be what they think the other person wants, and sadly not on what God wants them to be. 

Little did I know that I didn't need to make a girl like me, God would do that for me. All I had to do was wait and prepare. Over time and much bible study God led me to some personal convictions about dating and courting. I would seek to try and find the right way to court a girl. Boy did I have a hard time finding that out. It seemed that every one has different ideas, but I didn't want another idea, I wanted the Biblical way! Sadly only after a broken hearted experience of my own, did I begin to really take it seriously. To earnestly seek God's way of finding a mate, and establishing a future home based on a biblical foundation.

I knew that a broken heart was way to painful, and I just couldn't imagine thousands of young Christians going through that feeling several times in their life, before they found the one.

Over time and much study and observation of several bible colleges and personal friends, I began to see that courting was much like dating. I would hear of people who would date, or court, with the intention of seeing if they were compatible, only to later hear how the relationship ended in tears and heartbreak. 

I knew that God had to have a better way. I was led to this series of books, This is where I first heard of the term Divine Betrothal. 

http://lcbplansing.org/Books/Ladies.htm

Since that time I have had many discussions with people, young and old. Some agree and some disagree with the idea. All I know is that I believe it, and I know its true because that is exactly what God did for me. He didn't work it out as perfectly as He could of, because of some mistakes I made. But he did work a miracle!

 Doing things this way has produced a closeness that I really cant describe, but I now understand better the level of closeness the Lord wants each one of us to have with Him. A tender, "save your all, give your all", closeness.

My only regret is that I wish I would of trusted the Lord more, and leand not unto my own understanding. Every time I got scared and tried to take control I hindered the Lord's perfect plan. But when I was finally able to truly trust the Lord, and let Him take over every part of it. HE DID A MIRACLE!

Don't let your loneliness or fear make you think it cant happen for you, it can!