[Devoted1]

"Sole Reliance"
By: Zach Wood
1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.


I'm writing this devotional as many things are on my mind and heart. As most of you know, I'm getting married this Saturday, Feb. 21. After 2PM this Saturday, my life will change forever. I will no longer be single, but married and responsible for a family of my own. While this brings much excitement, enthusiasm and joy, it also brings some concern. The concern I have is that I will be a strong leader in my family. A leader that is grounded in the faith of Jesus Christ. God has been working on my heart these past few months and even more this past month. As the wedding day draws nearer and nearer, God is bringing me through a serious transition. It's a joyous time, but also a deep thinking time. I know that I will be learning a lot about being a husband and how to honor, respect and cherish my wife. I feel so undeserving of what God is giving to me this Saturday. God has blessed me with a love that is beyond what I ever prayed for. Jill was brought into my life March 28, 2003 and I never would have thought God would have brought us on a journey like He has. If I were to share with you all the blessings and growth we have experienced, it would take pages and pages.

Since we have grounded our relationship with Christ, it would seem bizarre to think that I would ever try to manage the marriage on my own strength and ignore God's guidance. However, I believe it would be possible even though we have Christ at the center. No matter how much I desire to be a Godly husband, there will be times when I am tempted to take matters into my own hands and strength and fail to consult with God. I need to make sure that I'm consistent in my walk with Christ, reading His Word, praying and communicating and putting much investment in building a Christ-filled marriage at all times. I don't ever want to take for granted that we have a Christ-filled marriage.

As a single person, I have lost count at the number of times I've tried on my own strength instead of consulting with God. This passage urges us to look to God for our strength and see His face.......ALWAYS. That's the word that sticks out to me the most. If I am to be a Godly husband and leader in my family, I need to seek God's guidance and strength every moment of everyday.

This, however, does NOT just apply to a marriage situation. We, as Children of God, are to constantly seek His face and His guidance. How else are we going to successfully live life? It's not possible. I know that it's challenging for us each day to solely rely on God's strength and not ours. So many temptations and distractions get us to think we can "do life" on our own. We get the attitude that we don't need God's help. Boy, are we sorely mistaken. We all know from experience that this simply does not work effectively. There's a reason we are not perfect and He is. He knows what we don't, so we had better rely completely on Him.

What's ahead in my future as a husband? I have no idea, but I know it's going to be wonderful with Christ as my Savior and the center of my marriage to Jill. There's no other way I would have it be. But I must make the effort and prove those words true in my daily effort to keep Him as center. If I desire to have a healthy Christian marriage relationship, I must be the leader God has called me to be and seek Him in everything. Each one of us, married or not married, should rely on His strength and seek Him non-stop.

I pray the Lord will be your sole reliance through your everyday journey of life.