It’s been one whole year since I said yes to my best friend and within one year so much has changed. One major lesson I’ve learned within one year of engagement is how much more prayerful I need to be. It sounds so simple, but it has led to some powerful changes.
In theory, I knew that I would have to pray for “more” things because that inevitably comes with changing seasons, however I didn’t fully realize what that “more” would actually require of me. Within the first month of engagement, I saw how I needed to make room to pray for these new things that came with this season, and now within one year, it has become more of a natural practice, but it wasn’t easy in the beginning.
Don’t get me wrong, being engaged has been amazingggg, but to say it has all been easy would be a lie! It has cost me somethings. Between wedding planning, marriage prepping, and family bridging, all while still carrying out my daily life of work, ministry, and graduate school, I couldn’t manage all of these things without more prayer and receiving God’s wisdom through it all.
Within this past year, I found that the depth of the things that I needed to pray for, challenged me to be more intentional. More intentional about praying for a peace of mind and unity in my relationship, more intentional about praying for God’s protection over my mind, my relationship, and my families. And more intentional about praying that God opens my eyes (especially blind spots about myself that only the Holy Spirit could reveal to me) to what I need to learn and embrace in this season of engagement in order to prepare for marriage.
This demand for more prayer was so important because once you get engaged you begin this long (or short) journey of wedding planning. And within this journey, a lot of decision-making occurs between yourself, your fiance, your family, your in-laws, and maybe your friends too. There’s just so many voices and parties involved. And in all of those instances, in order to make decisions—outside of “little things” like choosing wedding colors– you need to stay prayerful so you can receive wisdom from the Lord.
James 1:5 says If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Part of the reason why I think this scripture says “ask our generous God,” is because in this life, we need wisdom every day, and for each day, God is generous at giving it!
Choosing to increase my time in prayer has helped me to abide in God (see John 15:5) and gain strength for my daily life. I’m grateful that I serve a God who hears and responds (see 1 John 5:14), and He sure has been responding! Since I became more intentional with prayer, God has given me more grace to walk wisely in my season of engagement and I’m truly grateful because I’ve avoided unnecessary wahala (aka trouble), and I’ve gained greater direction for my future marriage.
Let me leave you with this last scripture: Luke 12:48b: says when someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
Whatever season of life you find yourself in, and whatever season you aspire to go into, keep in mind that scripture.
Ultimately, praying more allows you to draw near to the Lord, and the more you draw towards Him, the more He draws to you (see James 4:8). And what in this life is better than having more of God?
The woman I was when I said “yes,” is nowhere near the woman I am now who is getting ready to say “I do,” and it’s all by the grace and strength of God.
Until next time,
Beautyoluwa
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