I have a question for the men here: What if you're in love with a great woman, and you have brought her to meet your family and friends. You later find out there's just something about her that your family and friends don't like. Would that change your relationship with the woman you love? How would you handle the situation? Oops, that two questions. :laugh:
You hit the nail on the head, newinmay. I've always been one for following the leading of the Holy Spirit, but ...because our voice sounds SO similar, that gets really sticky. Because of my obsessive streak, I've tied myself up for months/years over some stupid thing that I thought was the Lord.
It's important to hear from the Lord - but Godly counsel and wisdom is a key there. The tricky part is finding *Godly* counsel and wisdom. There is wisdom in the counsel of many, so just by sheer numbers of trying, and praying and trusting that the Lord can speak to you through these people, you can often get to the bottom of it all.
But back to your original question Zoe; this ties in with the Godly counsel - what is there that they don't like? The guy who brought me to the Lord, his discernment is such a powerful gift that if he says run, I would. But that's cause he's never wrong, and he would be unbiased. He may not like a girl I'm checking out, and he may say that, but he'll be very, very specific about what's his opinion, and what he feels he sees in the spiritual realm.
I've also had to learn to get my parents involved in my life - the whole "honour your parents" thing. I didn't get along well with my dad when I was younger, and the Lord really did a miracle between us before he died last year, but I still had to actively go out and keep my parents in the loop about everything, ask them to pray, and if they had anything to say on the matter, to speak up. I may or may not agree with them, but I certainly won't ignore what they say.
Also - on the flip side of the coin, there's one lady that comes to mind who's dad has an alchohol problem. So if I were to marry her, in effect, I'm marrying her father as well. But she needs a good christian man - so should I be turning her down because her family may not be christian? ....yet? And yet, I want *the best*, as too often the good is the worst enemy of the best.
I don't have all of the answers of course, but I have a lot of my own questions.
