Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."¹

Many ask the question, does God choose our life partner or is it up to us to make our own choice? My answer is "yes" and "no" in that God will give us wisdom and guidance if we seek it, but we are responsible for choosing the one we marryâ€"at least this is so in Western culture.

There are a few country and western songs that I really like, one of which is by Tracy Byrd. It's "The Keeper of the Stars." Tracy (in my mind at least) is referring to God even if his theological terminology doesn't come out of a seminary course.

In his song Tracy says:

    It was no accident me finding you
    Someone had a hand in it
    Long before we ever knew
    Now I just can't believe you're in my life
    Heaven's smilin' down on me
    As I look at you tonight.

    I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
    He sure knew what he was doin'
    When he joined these two hearts
    I hold everything
    When I hold you in my arms
    I've got all I'll ever need
    Thanks to the keeper of the stars.

    It was no accident me finding you
    Someone had a hand in it
    Long before we ever knew.²

The someone Tracy is referring to, in his words, is the "Keeper of the stars."

This is how I feel towards Joy, my wifeâ€"who has indeed helped make my life Joy-full. I also feel like "heaven's smilin' down on me."

Some would argue that finding a wife or husband for them has not been a good experience. In fact, it's been the opposite. What few fail to realize, however, is that no matter what kind of person we married, there were reasons in us why we were attracted to that person in the first place. And if we will take a long hard honest look at what we contributed to the failure of our marriage, God will use this to help us grow and become a much healthier person. And that's a good thing. The fact is that only emotionally healthy happy people find healthy happy partners, and have healthy happy marriages.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you want me to become whole in every area of life so that I can enjoy and appreciate the abundant life of love, joy and peace (you promised your followers), and to find loving relationships. Please help me so to grow and become whole. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 18:22 (NIV).
2. Tracy Byrd, "Keeper of the Stars." http://tracybyrd.musiccitynetworks.com/ Copyright. Used by permission.

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