1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)
“I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”
As human beings, our vision is limited—we can only see so far. But our God in Heaven sees the whole picture: every twist, every turn, every choice we’ll make before we even see it coming. That’s why trusting Him isn’t optional; it’s the only way forward. Some of us live as if we have it all figured out, but the truth is, without God’s guidance, our plans are shaky at best. That’s why we must trust Him to lead and prepare us, especially for sacred assignments like marriage. Marriage is more than a dream or a status change; it’s a calling to serve God by serving our spouse. To walk in that calling well, we must train our hearts now—becoming disciplined, strategic, and willing to submit to the process of preparation.
Preparing to Serve Before You Promise to Stay
Marriage isn’t God cosigning our personal happiness plan; it’s Him inviting us into a living picture of Christ’s love—up close, daily, sometimes gritty, and always holy. We prepare for marriage by first letting Jesus train our hearts in His school of service. Mark 10:45 (NLT) tells us, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If that is the posture of our Lord, it must become ours. A wedding ceremony can happen in an afternoon; a servant heart is formed in a lifetime of hidden yesses to God’s Will.
God’s Requirement: Christlike Love Lived Out
Philippians 2:5 (NLT) reveals that God’s requirement from us isn’t that we get everything perfect all the time, but that we are aligned with Christ’s way of loving: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” That attitude shows up as humility, purity, faithfulness, and a willingness to lay down rights for another’s good. For a husband, Ephesians 5:25 (NLT) tells us that it looks like this: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.” For a wife, Ephesians 5:22-24 calls for a spirit of respectful cooperation that reflects trust in the Lord. Both are called to mutual honor, to outdo one another in showing genuine love. This isn’t about following cultural expectations or meeting society’s checklist. It’s covenant obedience. Anything less leaves us self-focused and unready.
Shifting the Mindset: Privilege, Not Entitlement
We don’t prepare in order to earn God’s love; we prepare because we already have it—and we want to steward it well. Marriage becomes a privilege when we see it as a platform to display Christ, and not a trophy to validate us. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 (NLT) “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way.” Those aren’t pretty wedding-day verses; they are daily marching orders. When we embrace that, disappointment loses its power, because our core goal stops being “Am I being fulfilled right now?” and becomes “Am I reflecting Jesus in how I’m showing up right now?
Spiritual preparation for God’s blessings isn’t ever about shame. It’s an invitation. Every surrendered adjustment you make today is one less fracture point tomorrow. God isn’t stalling you; He’s shaping you. Let Him stretch your patience, deepen your compassion, refine your communication, soften your tone, and strengthen your commitment to truth. Preparation is worship. Service training is worship. And in due season, the Lord can knit two prepared servants into one powerful testimony. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“A Heart Willing to Submit to Service”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
