Hi Ladies,

Many of Our Father’s single Daughters, who are anticipating marriages in their future, may hear murmurings from a voice whispering in our heads. But it isn’t the voice of God. This one says “There must be something wrong with you since ‘everybody has gotten married except you'”. It declares that you’ll never have the family you’ve dreamed about, and that you’re the one at fault. Or it insinuates that no matter your professional accomplishments, you’re still incomplete without a man.

This voice accuses you of being ‘too picky’ or expecting too much. Why don’t you just be “realistic” and settle for what you can get? After all you’re getting older by the day, and pretty soon nobody’s going to want you. And most of all, it questions whether or not you truly heard what you know you heard from God.

We may consider this naysayer voice to be the “voice of reason”, or our own self trying to talk some sense into our head. But we must realize that every day we are besieged by sly suggestions or outright lies that come straight from the father of lies. John 8: 44 describes our adversary, and his followers: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.” Truly our task is to realize who is speaking negative reports into our lives, and to reject those lies entirely!

Anything that attempts to undermine our self-worth is satanic. Any statement that contradicts what God has spoken is demonic. The adversary is relentless and will not give up. He has many voices, but the most insidious and destructive can be our very own. Why? Because that’s the voice we tend to believe most.

If an acquaintance or a family member said you were too unattractive, too overweight, or too involved in your career to ever receive the love of a man, you would likely respond with anger and defiance. You would resist the devil if he came at you in that manner because you would recognize him as a liar and as the source of lies. But when you tell yourself these very same words, it sounds like harsh but true reality.

If a co-worker announced that she felt sorry for you for being single, and that your life must be second-rate, you would be irate and eager to set her straight. You would emphasize how much you value your freedom, and how greatly you enjoy the options made possible by your solo status. Yet you speak negative words in moments of dejection, and believe them to be true.

Who are you listening to, and embracing? In James 4: 7, we are admonished to “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” “Resist” is an active verb. It indicates an act of the will, a deliberate action on our part. Resisting the devil will drive him away, but if, instead, you accept his presence, he’ll stay busy and active in your head. He’ll assume he has free rein in there because you are letting him occupy space with no objection.

It is our own choice whether to draw near to God or listen to the enemy. The decisions we make determine who we are, and we can choose to be either a strong Believer or a weak one. This is one of the most vital issues any Christian faces, regardless of gender or marital status. Whose voice do you respond to? Who will you allow to rule and reign in your life? Discerning the voice of God is critical, since listening to the wrong one can lead to disastrous consequences, especially in love and marriage!

Stay prayerful, and vigilant! Until next week…