A
unified marriage helps us as individuals in so many ways. We are yoked with our
best friend, and have a partner to share life's load. Unity helps us to mature
spiritually, to enjoy someone with whom we can cry and laugh, to experience a
cure for loneliness, to give us a safe place to heal, etc.
Unity
enables us to learn to accept one another's foibles and failings, to remove any
overbearing expectations, to have patience with each other's faults, and to love
one another unconditionally - just as Jesus loves His Bride (Romans 15:7;
Ephesians 5:25).
We
freely chose to marry our mate for whatever reason motivated our decision;
therefore, we can develop the habit of not focusing on mistakes made,
disappointments, outburst of anger, opposite personalities, divergent life
goals, broken promises, etc.
Instead,
we share compassion and acceptance with each other. A unified marriage provides
us with a haven in storms, someone to share our laughter, a safe place when
life often scares us, the joy of family and belonging, the security of Agape
love, a ladder on which to rise above our circumstances, and loving arms to
embrace us in our stress and sorrows.
Our
mate gives us a sounding board for our questions and concerns, a prayer partner
when life threatens to overwhelm us, a companion in the pursuit of holiness, opportunities
to purify our soul, chances to allow patience to perfect us, grieving our
losses together, and finding fun and playfulness in our daily experiences.
We
share a history of decades of togetherness, victories over challenges, joint
experiences that we helped each other to overcome, memories that we cherish,
and the opportunity to enjoy the fruit of our labors as we grow old together. We
actually love, honor, respect and cherish each other for a lifetime.
Prayer:
Father
God, as humans, we often focus on our differences, lose patience with one another's
frailties, and cultivate disappointments from unintentional slights and hurtful
behavior. We also suffer from grave financial losses, experience disrupted
personal relationships with our children and extended family, as well as discomfort
with members of our church family, and stunted personal growth in so many areas.
We often choose to give up. However, this causes us to disappoint You, because
You hate divorce and infidelity (Malachi 2:16).
You
want a pure and holy Bride for Your Son, free of the habitual stains of sin, and
the wrinkles of selfishness, pride and willful disobedience to Your
commandments. Create in us a clean heart, and renew a true spirit in us that
walks lock-step with Your Holy Spirit each moment of every day (Psalm 51:10-19).
Help us to see that adultery and divorce rob us of a lifespan of memories to
cherish. We rely only on You, and we look forward to our increasing peace and
joy in Your holy presence within us.
Thought
for the Day:
When
two or more people attempt to dwell together in unity, we often experience more
conflict than harmony; therefore, it is vitally important for us to serve one
another in love, to accept each other just as we are, and to help each other by
lovingly encouraging each other to walk in holiness as God perfects our individual
shortcomings.
-
Psalm 133:1; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 1:15-16
