Marriage is defined as a union of two individuals. God
phrases it as two becoming one. This means that we no longer strive to please
our self, but to submit to one another as joint heirs to the Kingdom of God (1 Peter
3:7). We no longer promote our own agenda, but meld our ideas to formulate a
new way of life, which meets both of our needs.
When one person in the couple gives more than the other
person, there is an inequity in both power and fulfillment. This imbalance will
throw off the symmetry of the relationship and fuel negative emotions, which
destroy intimacy. If undetected or not dealt with, they will erode even the
best of relationships.
In a Godly marriage, both partners build up one another in love (1 Thessalonians 5:11), bear with one another (Ephesians
4:2), help to carry each other's burdens (Colossians 3:13), edify
each other rather than to criticize or tear one another down (Ephesians
4:29), and find God's will for our marriage by praying together
and seeking the Holy Spirit's direction (Jude 1:20).
We all need praise, affirmation, love, appreciation and
support. No one likes to be taken for granted, discounted or neglected. We
often get too focused on work, children, church activities and community
involvement and end up disregarding our mate and family. This is as much of a
betrayal as infidelity. Make your mate your priority, second only to God. Spend
time as a family and bond for a lifetime.
Prayer:
Father God, You knew us and had every day of our life planned
out before we were ever born (Psalm 139:16). You gave woman to man as a
helpmate. Teach us to value one another's opinions, because there are many bad
decisions, which could have been avoided if a couple discussed and prayed about
it prior to carrying it out. Help us to avoid blaming and criticizing and to
accept one another, even with all of our idiosyncrasies.
Thought for the Day:
Financial, mental, emotional, physical and
spiritual fidelity is the key to marital success.
