How to Thrive in Your Singleness
Distracted Devotion
Day 3
Stay on track with Passion Equip
Create a profile or sign in to track your progress and access your bookmarked content.
There is a temptation for those of us who are single to spend our time pining after what we don’t have. If we aren’t careful, we may look up one day and realize we have wasted this precious time intended for devotion to the one worthy of our affection.
On day three, Ben Stuart encourages us to use every moment we have to give God our unrivaled attention.
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Summary
Ben Stuart points out that we, as humans, tend to amplify the benefits and downplay the limitations in a stage we aren’t in and amplify the limitations and downplay the benefits in the stage we are in.
“Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living.” - Jim Elliot
Here is the truth, and it may be one you’ve been hoping we wouldn’t address: singleness does not have a known end date that we can circle on the calendar as if it’s the last day of winter. Life just doesn’t work that way. That can be a painful reality. But can you imagine how much more painful it would be if you reached the end of your days and realized that you let that disappointment stagnate your time on Earth? If you became like the man in the library, surrounded by all the books he ever wanted to read, wasted his time worrying about what color his glasses were? Don’t use your time here to become a servant of your longings, filling your time with distractions or ambitions.
“Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” - Jim Elliot
As Ben Stuart urged you, use this season for a greater purpose—to glorify God and grow closer to Him, entirely devoting ourselves to Him.
What's Next?
Make space in your calendar to spend at least one hour giving Jesus your undivided attention today (no phone). This could be journaling, listening and singing along to worship music, or just going for a walk and talking to God and being intentional to speak and then to listen. During this time, write down five things you’re grateful for in this season of your life.
How does gratitude help you shift your perspective?
How can you make spending time with Jesus more of a priority in your life?
Scripture References
