When
two imperfect people join their lives together and attempt to forge one union
under God, there will be issues. Individual preferences, differing world views,
mental and emotional strengths and weaknesses, etc. all play a part in how we
get along.
One
of the key ingredients in a good marriage is to learn to freely forgive and to
honestly apologize. Growing together in Christ will enable any couple to unite
is spirit and soul, as well as in body.
If
we are unwilling to encourage one another's differences and to blend together
in as many areas as possible, then a war can break out that leaves bitterness
and resentment in its wake.
Some
couples make the choice not to grow in unity, but to pursue their own hobbies,
interests and preferences. Some even choose to disregard each other's needs and
desires. They disavow their marital pledge to put each other first.
They
foolishly decide to allow their choices to pull them apart rather than to attract
them to each other. They fail to make time in their schedule for one another,
viewing all of their other commitments as more important.
Once
they realize the imprudence of these choices, they can honestly apologize and
forgive one another. This enables them to schedule time together, to try new
hobbies together, and to pursue other interests together in order to find
activities that they can enjoy as a couple.
As
each partner walks in the Spirit every moment of the day, they have compatible
ideas, prefer one another, respect each other's differences, and have
compassion on each other's weaknesses.
God
provides us with everything that we need in order to live a godly life and to
dwell together in unity. His Spirit regenerates our spirit and sanctifies our
soul, so that we can adopt the divine nature of God as our own (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Prayer:
Father
God, the human psyche is so frail and so easily wounded. Help us to treat each
other as we want to be treated. Caution us not to marry someone that has needs
and ideas that are extremely divergent from our own. Help our main goal each
day to be to bless one another in any way that we possibly can.
Remind
us to follow Your Spirit's leading when we choose a mate. Then, help us to find
ways to continually bless one another, to meld together in unity, and to serve
You together with our life. We want to be a team that will humbly minister Your
love, mercy and compassion to one another.
Thought
for the Day:
Following God's direction on who to marry will help us not to reap the consequences of our unwise decision by experiencing the curse of being unequally yoked with the wrong person; however, at times, God will lead us to marry a challenging person in order to help them to heal, and to cause us to rely on Him, rather than on another human being.
Following God's direction on who to marry will help us not to reap the consequences of our unwise decision by experiencing the curse of being unequally yoked with the wrong person; however, at times, God will lead us to marry a challenging person in order to help them to heal, and to cause us to rely on Him, rather than on another human being.
