I never wanted to get married. The only marriages I'd seen were disintegrating. When I needed to choose yes or no I asked God for help. He answered that I needed to trust one person in my life. That person is my husband now. He saved me, and I saved him.

1 Corinthians 7:16
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Bible Gateway link: 1 Corinthians 7:16 (ESV)

Need I say more?😊

1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Bible Gateway link: 1 Corinthians 4:20 (ESV)

I think you need courage for the small decisions. For example, being kind when you don't want to, or, doing the next right thing instead of jumping into the breach because you 'feel' like it. I learned this by living with the consequences of thinking I could run my own life.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

Bible Gateway link: Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

So many small decisions! It is easy not to notice which way you are turning. Let God speak to you. A moment of awareness will turn you toward the light. The payoff is armor, we need it in this world.

Rom 13:12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.


Bible Gateway link: Romans 13:12 (NKJV)

They broke his heart! In trying to keep Paul from harm, his fellow followers failed him. All of us of little faith, we DON'T know how to protect ourselves against the world. Only God knows.

Acts 21:13
Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Bible Gateway link: Acts 21:13 (NKJV)

Obviously our Founding Fathers took this ancient advice when forming the backbone of our great country. I pray we don't blow it now.

1 Chronicles 28:9

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Bible Gateway link: 1 Chronicles 28:9 (ESV)

Just before I was married I heard a biblical genealogy read at length in church. I found myself crying uncontrollably. Maybe I felt through marrying I was losing my identity. I suspect it was God telling me that I am a link in a very long chain. The chain will always be unbroken and my little life is both vital and unimportant.

1 Chronicles 1:1-4
Adam, Seth, Enosh;
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared;
Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech;
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth....

Bible Gateway link: 1 Chronicles 1-4 (ESV)