Relationships

Time in Australia with a theme of Relationships.

In my time in Australia God has taught me a lot about relationships.

This seems to be a theme in which God has taught me a lot about myself, the calling placed on my life, and looking for that special someone.

In the last few months, I felt God show me these things:

God has made me with certain "no compromise" areas, whilst other areas are areas which are changeable.

I'll start with the first…the no compromise area.

What I felt God show me about myself in this last few months in Australia is that there is a calling or "edge" that God has put within me that I need to acknowledge, accept, and rest in.

This edge or calling, has to do with recognising the leadership of Holy Spirit as the one who will lead and do the work of revealing Jesus "through" his people and word.

It is the Spirit of God who is to go before, behind and around us.  He fills us.

I have found that this part that makes me who I am, or provides the edge to make me sharp for His purposes, is pivotal to the calling of Salvation in Japan.

I have learnt that there is a sense of freedom that is found with some people, and not with others.

This is not to judge people, but rather to recognise that within the context of my future marriage, that in "this" area, there needs to be a sense of freedom.

Now, with regards to Godly wisdom in relationships, I have received a lot of this through trusted and Godly council.

I have learnt that there are areas of my life and who I am or what I do, that do in fact need to be adjusted and modified to suit God's work of love in any relationship.

I realise that there are styles of living and relating to God that are good and holy in their own right, and that I need to honour and respect people in their ways of living these out.  

I realise that there are areas that I need to work on that aren't my strength or style at this particular time.

Some of these things include considering how others feel respected and honoured in any given culture or context.

I have learnt that it is also important to consider some traditions that people hold, and to respect those to an extent.

To summarise:

I have learnt that there are areas that make or define who I am, and that these are no compromise areas, given to me for God's purposes.  Regarding relationship with my future wife to be, God desires a sense of release and freedom in these areas.

On the other hand, God has shown me that there are areas of my life that I do actually need to grow in and take action upon when the opportunities arise.  These areas include learning about other people's love languages and acting accordingly to accommodate and communicate.