But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.- Matt 6:33
The above verse shows that God Himself will provide for all my needs, including a wife. It really was not up to me to seek a wife. As I shifted my priorities to seek Him first for everything, the Lord surprised me on March 1, 2002. After a spiritually encouraging prayer meeting, I went to a coffee house to make friends and share the gospel. After a friend introduced me to Nicole, we chatted and exchanged how we became saved. I enjoyed her openness in sharing Christ and her unique personality. When I went home, I prayed to the Lord, asking if she is the one He had planned along.
During that time, I was also seeking where God would have me go to deepen my relationship with Him. After visiting various Christian fellowships, I was lead to the Christian fellowship where Nicole also was involved. As we were involved in various opportunities to share the good news of Jesus, we mutually enjoyed our creativity, humor, non-stop conversation and desire for the gospel.
As our friendship deepened over time, I seriously prayed for God’s leading, as well as sought counsel from godly brothers regarding marriage. I came to verse Psalm 128:3 - You wife shall be a fruitful vine within your house, Your children like olive plants around your table. In fact, At her house at that time, she had garden with vines and olives! Prayerfully, we began to spend more time together and my love for Nicole grew strong, whose source is not solely on my feeling, but in Christ. Eventually, the Lord spoke me with this:
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun- Ecc. 9:9
On Feb 8th, I asked Nicole to marry me. (She accepted.) I look forward to experience more of Christ’s love within our marriage together as God continues to transform us into His desired image.