"Dear Lord: Let me know if I am going to get married or not. It's up to you. If I am, you'll pick him out for me."

So were these profound words uttered by a trusting post-college woman? Actually, you may be surprised to hear that Maria Rapha prayed this prayer tonight. It was incredible.

A bit of background for you: When I first met Maria Rapha, one of the first things she confidently declared was that she was never getting married because "all men do is cheat". It soon became evident to me that she had been taught to have a very low opinion of men. Furthermore, there is not a single married couple in her life. For her, it is natural for children to be born out of wedlock to teen girls and for men to live with, beat and cheat on their girlfriends. This perspective really disturbs me, for obvious reasons. Therefore, I have taken every opportunity that has presented itself to discuss a godly few of the male species.

To send forth the truth about relationships between men and women, I have shared from my own personal experiences. Now, those of you who know me may think that this means that I had nothing to talk about! Quite the contrary. Over and over again I have told her that I don't know if I am going to get married, but I know that if God wants me to, he is going to pick out my husband for me. When she asked why marriage was so important, I asked her if she wanted her child to grow up without seeing her father. I knew it was a painful question for her since her father lives in Kyle and yet has virtually no contact with her. I could tell that the question resonated with her because she shook her head in the negative, her eyes filled with pain.

Soon after the first of these conversations, Maria Rapha began praying for my husband and my future children--something that really surprised me since I really don't talk about either possibilities unless she first inquires. When she was praying for my children, she said something like this "And if they think that she is mean because she gets after them, let them know she is really kind." I was so moved.

After she started praying for my husband and children, I started praying for hers and mine. I declared in Jesus name that she would have a husband who loved the Lord and loved her. He would be a man who treated her right and was faithful to her. Her children would grow up knowing their father. Maria Rapha would begin to be the healer in her family by ending the cycle of broken relationships that her mother had inherited and could potentially pass down to her daughter. Things will be different for her.

So after that bit of background, I want you to read these words again and ask yourself if or if not the Lord is working in the heart of this little girl:

"Dear Lord: Let me know if I am going to get married or not. It's up to you. If I am, you'll pick him out for me."