ladies, the only man you need is Jesus

I don't know how to word this, but I'll give it my best shot.

Lately (over the past couple weeks), God has been teaching me how He needs to be the rock of my life. He's also been teaching me how silly it is to idolize the opposite sex (though in this sex-saturated culture, it is easy to fall into it). I hope all of this makes sense together. It's well past 11:20 (inside joke).

But the thing is...well, I have never been the type of girl who always has to have a boyfriend to be happy or derives all joy from guys' attention, but I know a lot of girls who feel that way. Well, I'm not completely innocent of feeling like that, but that was mostly in high school...ever since I came to college, I haven't felt like that...and I know exactly why. It's because I have found something much better than having a man in my life, and that is God. A man could never fulfill me like God does.

For instance...I have heard many girls say that life would be so much easier and happier if they had a boyfriend...when in fact, they just need Jesus. A man could never, ever fill that God-shaped hole.

I knew this since I became a Christian, but this is the first time I am personally experiencing it. I've been in a God-centered relationship for two weeks, and I am incredibly happy about it, but it is not the source of my joy. My boyfriend is not the source of my joy. God is the source of my joy. No one else could possibly take the place of God.

God has put it on my heart to share this with women who feel as though they need a guy to be happy. Ladies, listen...you only need one man, and his name is Jesus. If a boy brings you all of your joy, that's called idolization.

One of the main points of a relationship (well, a Godly relationship, a real relationship) is to grow closer to God together. If you are in a relationship and all of your joy is with each other, it is not glorifying to God!

Your relationship with God should not depend on your relationship with your boyfriend. The joy in your life should not depend on your relationship with your boyfriend. You should depend on God. If you and your boyfriend broke up, your joy should not be affected because it should come from the Lord. Yes, that is hard to grasp, being completely joyful even though you and your boyfriend broke up, but think about it: that is obviously God's will for your life. Rejoice in Him, for He knows better than you do. I guarantee it.

I have embedded this into my heart and brain so much that when I got into a relationship, I questioned whether or not I was allowed to be happy about it. I checked myself constantly, asking myself if my joy was coming from Andrew or if it was coming from what God has done in my life. The fact that I constantly check myself about it gives me peace that I am joyful about what God has done, nothing else, and that I am striving to keep Him first in my heart always.

But to answer my own question, yes, I am allowed to be happy! God has done wonderful things. God brings me happiness, Andrew brings me happiness, my friends bring me happiness, but only God and what he Has done in my life brings me joy. Don't feel guilty about being happy about a man; people are supposed to make you feel different emotions! Just make sure God brings you the greatest emotion of all.

God is my rock. We must be content with Him and whatever He chooses to do in our lives. He knows what is best for us at all times, whereas we are sinful humans. We choose the flesh over the spirit more times than not. We need Him. We need to give Him the attention and love He deserves because without him, our lives would fall apart.

It gets me wondering how I ever survived without God. Prior to the last year and a half of my life, I depended on myself, and my life was just a mess. The flesh ruled me. I've done a 180...I remind myself every day not to trust the flesh because it only leads to death. I have a giant sign in my room that says it.

I also have Galatians 5:17 hanging up in my room: For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Like I said before, we are sinful human beings. It is in our nature to want to sin! But the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh...if we follow the spirit, we cannot go wrong.

If we follow God, we cannot go wrong. That is why He must be our rock and our joy. Always.

David Crowder Band - You Are My Joy
And I'm laughing so hard...

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It's been a while, so here's some stuff:

Radiate 2010 was pretty darn sweet. Most of the messages were incredibly applicable, and the couple that weren't...well...I kinda dozed off for them :-/...I got very little sleep all week because my body is weird and likes to run all day and into the wee hours of the night without any sort of caffeine. I suppose that's a good trait. So, yeah, Radiate ruled as usual. I bought a couple books and a few evangelism tools, so hopefully I get someone to go with me so I can use them at school. The card thing looks pretty cool...and Soulariums are the coolest things ever...so, yeah.

I also got to know some pretty cool girls over Radiate, which was good. I like making new friends. Hmm...what else...well, I noticed that my guitar is cracked, so that sucks a whole bunch...hmm...oh.

The Winter Classic was amazing! Although the Penguins lost, it was still the coolest experience ever! I was way back and, therefore, covered from the rain. Whoever said it doesn't rain in hockey...well, they're right. That game was ridiculous. The ice was terrible...but what an experience!

And, because of the weather, the time was pushed back to 8 pm, so I got to sleep an extra night in Baltimore on those wonderful mattresses which, I am saddened to learn, are not, in fact, Tempur Pedic, but merely a really, really nice box spring. Oh well...they're still great...and definitely something to look forward to when it comes time for Radiate again. I LOVE RADIATE!

New Years Dinner was delicious as usual...the soup. THE SOUP. It's amazing. After the Classic, I ended up at the Southside Primanti Brothers, but I didn't eat. I almost regret it. That would have been a great end to New Years Day...if it wasn't already midnight!

New Years day was really good. The dance party the night before was fun because I just danced around like an idiot and wore a really cool dress on which I got a sweet deal. The fireworks SUCKED, but that's okay. Bringing in the new year whilst worshiping the Lord is always good...there's nothing else I'd rather be doing.

Anyway...I am super blessed, and I notice it more and more every day. I tend to lose sight of that when I'm at home and surrounded by negative emotion. Oh, I am not on a conference high. Radiate definitely cleared up a lot of things I'd been struggling with, but now I feel like I should be feeling rather than on a high, I guess. I don't know how to explain it right now.

That was the most jumbled blog EVER. But I guess my thoughts have just been all over the place. Something pretty cool is happening. But I shan't lose sight of God in the midst of it. God must stay first, and He will.

Only to Jesus, my knees will bow;
Beautiful Savior, Almighty God.