September Encounter Week
Photo by David Bartus
Welcome to Encounter Week!
God loves you more than you think, and your heart is precious to Him. Therefore, He is more interested in your relationship than you might assume. He has a good plan for you and the person you’re dating. When He speaks to you about your relationship, He is sharing His hope with you and giving you what you need.
For the next seven days, try to take a few minutes each day to be quiet and still with the Lord. Maybe you could go find a bench somewhere and just sit with Him. Or maybe for you, being quiet with God looks like going for a walk or spending time by yourself in your room, reading His Word and journaling.
Whatever being still with God looks like for you, ask Him to encounter you in a special way—particularly where your relationship is concerned. Listen for His voice, and write down what you think He might be saying to you.
This week, may you encounter the Lord in a beautiful way—and come to realize how much He delights in you and the person you’re dating.
The Truth of God Found in His Word
Here is a list of truths about you, your relationship, and the Lord based on His Word.
Every day this week, set aside some time, and meditate on one of the truths in the following list. (You don’t need to do them in order.) Ponder the truth in your spirit, and ask the Lord to teach you more about it. Invite Him to show your heart what is real about Him, about you, and about what He’s doing in your life.
Note: If you have trouble sitting still with the Lord, it might help to set a timer for fifteen minutes. (Choose whatever time works for you.) This can help you press into Him when it’s hard to focus.
Truth #1: The lovingkindness of the Lord fills the whole earth, including your home and your relationship.
The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes. (Ps. 119:64 NASB1995)
Just as the earth is full of God’s lovingkindness, so is your relationship. Understanding this truth is especially helpful if you’ve been struggling with relational anxiety and fear-based thoughts about dating. The lovingkindness of God is all around you, and no matter where you go next or where you turn, you can expect to run headfirst into His lovingkindness.
Ask God to show you how Psalm 119:64 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
Truth #2: The Lord is ready, and at the right time, He can make things happen for you.
The smallest of them will become a family.
The weakest of them will become a mighty nation.
At the right time I, Yahweh, will make it happen quickly. (Isa. 60:22 NOG)
The Lord is so very good with time. He is a master craftsman with hours and days and years. At the right time, He will make things happen for you and your relationship. You don’t need to be anxious, worried, or afraid of how He’s going to do it, because He already knows the answers, and He already has a plan.
Ask God to show you how Isaiah 60:22 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
Truth #3: The Lord is for you. He is your biggest supporter.
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. (Ps. 118:7 NLT)
Many people struggle to believe that God supports the desires of their hearts. Maybe they’re afraid He’s going to say “no,” or maybe they don’t really understand His great love for them. You can rest in the knowledge that the Lord is truly for you. He is your biggest supporter. He is helping you, and you will look in triumph on all your enemies: things like fear, doubt, lies about who you are, self-rejection, etc. Those enemies are defeated.
Ask God to show you how Psalm 118:7 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
Truth #4: The Helper is advocating for you and offering you divine counsel about your relationship.
The Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. (John 14:26 AMP)
John 14:26 is a description of who the Holy Spirit is for you as you date. You don’t need to be anxious, because you have a Comforter. You don’t need to make something happen in your own strength, because you have an Advocate and an Intercessor who is working on your behalf. You don’t need to rely on your own wisdom, because you have a divine Counselor who wants to help you.
Ask God to show you how John 14:26 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
Truth #5: The voice of the Lord is the answer when you need help.
You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. (Deut. 13:4 ESV)
The voice of the Lord is light in darkness. His voice is food when you’re starving. It is air when you feel like your circumstances are suffocating you. Spending time with the Lord is the answer when you don’t know what to do, and His voice is a river that never runs dry.
Ask God to show you how Deuteronomy 13:4 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
Truth #6: When you pray for your relationship according to the will of the Lord, you will receive what you ask for.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14–15 NIV)
This God is the God of miracles, and He wants to do miraculous things for you and your relationship. You are not alone as you date; the Lord is with you, and He wants to act on your behalf. When you know His will (what He wants to do for you and for your relationship), you can ask anything, and it will be given to you.
Ask God to show you how 1 John 5:14–15 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
Truth #7: The Lord is speaking to you.
The Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. (Deut. 4:12 NKJV)
It is amazing to consider how the sacred Voice mentioned in Deuteronomy 4:12 is the same sacred Voice we hear in our hearts as we listen to the Lord. He wants to give you counsel and talk about His amazing love for you. He is offering His wisdom to you freely—wisdom about your dating life, your job, your family, your car, and everything else that concerns you. As you read His Word and listen to Him, your life will change in beautiful ways.
Ask God to show you how Deuteronomy 4:12 applies to your relationship, and write down what He says.
His Voice Will Comfort Your Soul
Precious child of God, may your heart hear His voice this week and be amazed. May His counsel fill you with hope for the future, and may all the places where you feel anxious in your relationship be comforted with His love.
Do you long for God to be a part of your dating life? Check out these other devotions:
Your heavenly Father loves you more than you realize! For more about His amazing, unending love, check out Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.