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Today, we will be taking the 11th tip: To the godly single lady: Submit to your spiritual guide
Single-hood that must successfully transit into a godly relationship and subsequently, marriage requires spiritual guidance.
Historically, the Holy Scripture is replete with accounts of men and women who did excellently in marriage by virtue of their willingness to be guided by godly people of integrity, with a proven track record of experiential success.
For the purpose of this discourse, I would want to use the phrase ‘spiritual guide’ as a representative class. Different religious sects have ascribed this to mean different things.
Some call it Spiritual Fathers, Disciplers, Spiritual mentors etc., Quite honestly, they all reflect a common perspective; the perspective of an intentional follower-ship.
Who is a spiritual guide?
A spiritual guide is a man/woman, who by virtue of divine discipline and experience, is able and willing to direct and guide another (usually the minor), into the divine purposes of God, across different facets of life for the fulfillment of his/her mandate.
A spiritual guide acts as a discipler .
This guide functions majorly as a cover or an overseer to the disciple. Practically, this is evident in the area of teaching, mentor-ship, discipline, experiential acquisition of traits and virtues needed for the journey!
Jesus Christ lived for three years and a half, impacting the kingdom lifestyle into 12 men whom He specifically chose . A close observation of their contacts, revealed sessions of teachings and practical demonstration of the tenets of the Christian faith and lifestyle.
Hence, discipleship is intended to impart the lifestyle of Jesus Christ into the disciple, so as to achieve victory in this present world. Truthfully, a greater portion of the twelve disciples were not enlightened, from a scholarly perspective. Nevertheless, their discipleship relationship earned them much boldness and wisdom to speak and defend the cause of Christ, before elites and those in leadership positions.
At this juncture, I would want to us to look more closely into the scriptures to see women who were able to reach the hallmarks of their marital destinies by virtue of allowing for the blessings that comes with spiritual guidance.
This will help you to see the importance of having a spiritual guide around you and the blessings that accompany submitting to them.
ESTHER: A MODEL OF GODLY SUBMISSION
We see a woman called Esther, whose Jewish name was Hadassah, a poor orphan girl who was raised by her uncle, Mordecai.
Fortunately, the ties that bind Esther and Mordecai was such that it extended beyond family. It was more of a discipleship bond!
Unfortunately, the King Ahasuerus had just banished his Queen (Vashti) on account of her open display of sheer dishonor. The King was hurting; hence he sought for a replacement!
Consequently, a search was conducted for the young maidens of the land who flooded the King’s harem in Shushan, under the custody of Hegai (The chamberlain in charge of the women).
It was quite challenging for the young and naive virgin, Esther who had not had a prior exposure to such flamboyance. The magnificence of the palace could easily sweep many ladies off her feet.
However, Esther learnt so much about the ways of God, by virtue of her discipleship relationship. Mordecai had no fear or regret, releasing her to be a partaker of the contest.
Fortune smiled on the Jewish orphan when Hegai developed a special interest in her. Hence, he released all she needed for her beauty treatment.
Esther, having learnt submission, under her uncle, did not relent in subscribing to all of Hegai’s recommendations.
Hegai understood the King’s preferences in the women he chose as wives. Hence, Hegai ensured that Esther was ‘complete’ when the season of preparation had expired!
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (Esther 2:15)
Fortunately, Esther won the King’s heart and became Queen.
Esther could not have achieved this by goodwill, beauty or skills alone. She needed people to guide her!
Its a possibility that Esther had discerned that she was going to marry an influential man. She must have received great prophecies and visions of her future. Nevertheless, she couldn’t have risen to such an exalted position, if she took the decisions, all alone.
Dear single lady, irrespective of how gifted, anointed and skillful you have become, you’ll experience some difficulties in your journey when you walk alone.
Can you walk alone when you are ignorant of the pathway to your destination? The answer is ‘no’
Queenship,via marriage was the platform God needed to put an end to the Hamaan’s excesses. Esther rose to the occasion when she availed herself!
Remember, that Esther went through a season of treatment ( 12 months of Jewish purification)…. Physically, spiritually and otherwise.
Godly single-hood is a season of consecration, and a consolidation of your convictions!
She never revealed her Jewish identity, as instructed by her uncle. This continued even when she became Queen (Hadassah was her Jewish name)
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him (Esther 2:15)
Who do you instructions from? Your willingness to learn is important in your season of preparation as a godly single lady. Its not enough to verbally affirm God’s promises for your life. There is a pathway!
Hegai prescribed a beauty regimen for her and she was willing to follow it. She may not have had a field day as was the case with the other maidens. This was because she was intentional about becoming Queen.
Honestly, I think she must have discerned this.
This informed her willingness to do away with all the beauty tricks she knew, and offered to be taught by Hegai. It was a big risk, because this was a life-time opportunity. She had but ‘one chance’ to make an impression before the King!
Nevertheless, she won!
Ruth: A model of godly submission
Time will fail me to talk about Ruth who was enlisted in the blessed genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(You might want to see my very first blog post The Four Most Unlikely Ancestresses)
Her willingness to follow Naomi, a woman whose life has been attendant with a plethora of woes shows me that discipleship relationship transcends beyond the physical.
Ruth had seen the God of Israel; hence, her unwillingness to give in, just like her sister-in-law (Orpah).
I had earlier written a series on this subject… You can view this episode for the purpose of this study Ruth and Naomi and Ruth and Boaz
The importance of spiritual guides cannot be over-emphasized in our days! No experience is new under the surface of the Earth. Someone has gone through that path and it would be of great necessity if you would submit to your spiritual guide!
Additionally, you should realize that you do not have all the time in the world to experiment on possibilities. The advantage of having a spiritual cover will save you some unnecessary stress and hurdles on your path to fulfillment.
Your spiritual guide is also human. Hence, it is necessary to uphold him/her in the place of prayer so as to ensure that they dispense godly guidance to you appropriately.
God bless you!
Thank you so much for reading! I appreciate you!
