There is just no way to tell this story in short form. If it's too long and boring, just pass me over. I wouldn't blame you. Sorry.
I was married to a very violent and abusive man when I began to live for Christ. I read my Bible, went to church 3 X a week, and prayed for my husband's salvation almost every single day. I knew to keep my faith to myself. But the more prayed, the more violent he became until one day God spoke to me very clearly and said, "Get out now. Leave him and do not come back." I felt a sudden panic mixed with the presence of the Holy Spirit, and I got out of there before he came home. I believe God saved my life that day.
On my own, I made up my mind that I was through. I prayed, "Jesus, You are my husband now, and I don't care if I never get married again. It's You and me all the way."
I WAS like Jesus' wife. I talked to him all the time when we were alone; about everything a wife would talk to her husband about. If anyone saw or heard me, they would've thought I was crazy.
I grew in the Word, in knowledge and wisdom, and in faith. I continued going to church, reading and studying. My private time with him became much more precious to me; and I often worshiped on my face. I was so grateful to Him.
After 2-3 years of this, I began to feel the need for human male companionship. I asked God to send me His choice because I still didn't trust myself.
He did. He sent R.
R. and I had been attending this same church all this time; had known each other from 10 years before; but never once recognized each other.
God had put me on R's heart to go and visit 'that blonde girl' (me), but he didn't know why; he assumed that maybe God wanted him to pray with me about something. Suffice it to say, it was all surreal and strange. R. confided in the Pastor who showed him where my house was. So R showed up at my door. (We laugh now about how God worked all this out.)sat in the LR talking for less than 30 min when God told R, "This is your wife." R replied, "O no she isn't." But God repeated, "O yes she is. She's your wife."
R. then recognized who I was and after asking me a couple questions about what my last name had been years before, he exclaimed, "I'm Mary's little brother." Just like that, I recognized him. We KNOW God had kept us from recognizing each other until that moment.
Two days later, I felt VERY odd; like nothing I ever felt in my life before, and I knew it was God. Without thinking about what I was saying, I blurted out, "God, is he going to be my husband?" I don't want to explain how He confirmed it. But I KNEW.
That night, R came over for coffee and told me, "The Holy Spirit told me something about you. He said you're going to be my wife." His face was beet red. I replied, "I know. He told me too."
We've been married nearly 18 years. We laugh a lot. He has never been anything but a man after God's own heart. He has been ordained for more than 15 years, and I love him like there is no tomorrow. He is my best friend.
That's how I knew.