Lessons from engagement, #2

Continuation from the engagement series (pt 1)
This time is what I'll deem "growing the relationship" time. It's also a whole realm of new relationships that will form, and current relationships that will change, namely with family.
Three parts of growing the relationship. The first is with your fiance. This is now new ground to sow the seeds of a good foundation. Something that we started when we were dating was reading the Scriptures together. Something that we continued to do into our engagement period. Granted it hasn't been as cositent as either of us would have liked but it has definitely been profitable and rewarding time. Why? Because of the conversations that come up around it, our doctrine for the most part has been pretty similar, no huge waves, otherwise most likely we would not be where we are today. While we were dating, I made sure that I guarded my heart extremely well, sometimes to the point where it was too guarded (J can testify). As I look back now with only a month or so left until the wedding, I can see just how much we've grown closer over the last several months. Yes we're still getting to know each other, and will continue to after we're married, but with the intentional time spent together, outside of wedding planning, in the Word,  is what will be the firmest foundation that we'll have.

This is something that I have been extremely grateful for, a time together in the mornings just to open Scripture and hear the word of God spoken into our lives. Something so simple, yet powerful. Of course, this is what is revealed to us throughout Scripture too. "All scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16

The second is continuing to foster the relationships that you have with your close friends, and small group. Letting people know what is going on in your life, how they can be praying for you and even just a hug. Though it seems like a "Duh" moment, but honestly it has been such a blessing to be able to call and email the close friends I have, to know that they're holding the other end of the "support" rope through prayer and petition. At the end of the day, I've realized that maintaining these friendships includes letting them see you when you're struggling and fighting the hardest to keep the perspective that God is sovereign over all. Most importantly, they will be able to more intelligently bring your requests before our Loving Father, who knows us intimately and remind us of the truth in Scripture... what I need the most in the midst of a battle.

Finally, the most challenging one to address. Family. People that know and love us regardless of what we do, people who have seen the bad, who have seen the good. This is the relationship that has been the most challenging to grow during the engagement period thus far. The idea of leaving and cleaving seen in Gen 3 and throughout Scripture; is a difficult one to live out practically. Tips for this time? I'll let you know when I'm done. haha. In all seriousness, the verse that keeps coming up in my mind by the grace of God has been Phil 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition but with humility of mind count others more significant than yourself" Of course not taking this out of context but recognizing that the prime example we have of this is Christ. Which Paul explains later in chap 2, where Christ did not count equality with God (the Father) a thing to be grasped, but humbled himself to submit, to obey even to the point of death on the cross. This is what has fueled me in the last couple months. Clinging onto the truth that Christ humbled himself and obeyed, to the point of death on the cross, to bring glory to the Father. How much more should I, as a disobedient child, brought into the sheepfold by the blood, death and resurrection of Christ, how much more should I consider others more significant than myself?

By not doing so, I'm shaming the cross I call upon to save me. This is growing relationships during engagement, deferring to others, loving them, and investing time with them even when you're tired.