A Good Marriage - In Crisis

A crisis in a marriage calls for immediate action. We can either drift apart ending in bitterness, unforgiveness and probably divorce; or we can pull together, brainstorm for an equitable solution and pray together as we walk in the Spirit.

Divorce is never an option. It destroys lives - especially the life of the children involved in the marriage. They often feel abandoned, at fault for the divorce, and they inevitably question their parents' love for them.

They never learn to resolve conflict in their own relationships and often end up with the same results. Thankfully, a few of them will make wise choices and find mates that balance their personality or are willing to compromise and find common ground.

There is nothing more fulfilling in this earthly realm than to have a mate that cherishes us and thinks of us above him/her self. One that will laugh with us - not at us, enjoy hobbies together and serve God right alongside each other.

There is no fear in this type of love. We have the confidence that our partner will not throw us away like a sack of trash. They will help us to overcome our fears and insecurities and to love us in spite of them.

It is hard to feel secure when our partner does not allow unconditional love to flow from them to us. We are always on edge and never sure of our place in their heart, because we feel their condescension and derision.

God's love is unconditional. A commitment of Agape love in our marriage, shown in action and especially in word, will eradicate our fears and insecurities and give us a solid faith on which to stand (1 John 4:18).

We can count on Him to walk in and with us through every trial we experience in our marriage (Isaiah 43:1; Psalm 23:4). He infuses both marriage partners with His fruit in order to dwell together with understanding and unity.

Prayer:

Father God, an anxious heart wears us down, but consistent love from our mate goes a long way in building us up (Proverbs 12:25). Remind us not to allow discouragement in a troubled marriage to tear us down, because You are always with us and in us regardless of where we are and with whom we live (Joshua 1:9).

Help us not to worry when our mate grows distant from us, because You care for us and will work in our life for our ultimate good (Matthew 6:34; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 35:4; Luke 12:22-26). We humble our self before You and leave all of our worries in Your capable hands, because You care about us and will deliver us in Your timing and way (1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalm 55:22; Deuteronomy 31:6).

Thought for the Day:

The Lord is our Savior, not another person, vocation, place or thing; only He can provide us with the security and fulfillment that we long to possess during this lifetime. - Psalm 27:1

Totally Accepted and Approved

 

Our dependence on other people, our accomplishments, the size of our bank account or the amount of worldly goods we accumulate will overwhelm us with bondage to the earthly realm of life.

Our motivation for our choices and activities usually revolves around temporal considerations rather than eternal factors. What we fail to realize is that we are already crucified with Christ and filled with His Spirit (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:16-19).

The Lover of our soul is poised to lead us through each moment of our life; yet, we often ignore Him and tend to go to Him only in moments of crisis.

We forget that we are totally approved, accepted and unconditionally loved our Creator and King (2 Timothy 2:15). He loves us from the inside out.

God chose us before He formed the world and has a fulfilling plan for our life (Ephesians 1:4). We do not deserve His love and constant attention, but He freely gives us all things (Romans 8:32).

We find our security, peace of mind and needs met only in Him, regardless of circumstances. We do not earn it, because it is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Therefore, we never need to fear that we may do or say something to lose this personal connection to our Almighty God. It is ours forevermore. Once we express genuine sorrow over our sins and choose to follow God instead, we are eternally secure in Him (Romans 5:8).

Prayer:

Father God, You will never change Your mind about us and divorce us from Your family. You love us in spite of our foibles and idiosyncrasies, regardless of our behavior and without us having to earn Your unconditional favor. You are the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Thank You for Your overwhelming love, which sent Jesus to die for our redemption, for adopting us into Your family and making us co-heirs with Christ of everything pertaining to Your Kingdom both now and for eternity (Romans 8:17). Strengthen us in our inner being by Your Spirit and help us to walk in Your ways.

Thought for the Day:

There is nothing we could ever think, do or say that could ever separate us from the love of God. - Romans 8:38-39

Comfort

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. Then, when they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” - 2 Corinthians 1:4

The Bible stories we read as children and hear in sermons from every pulpit in the world are told in order to give us comfort and hope when we experience similar circumstances (Romans 15:4). Even in the valley of the shadow of death, we find comfort through the Lord’s protection and correction (Psalm 23:4). Then, we in turn can comfort others in their time of trouble. Job had three Christian brothers who came to “comfort” him in his affliction; yet, all they did was bring condemnation and more discouragement. We can learn from their example to act in a more sensitive and comforting manner when others need our help (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Psalm 119:50).

Sometimes, the Lord does not give us words of wisdom to share with a hurting friend or relative. This is when we simply offer to pray with them. At times, God wants our brother or sister to turn to Him in their crisis, rather than to us. This way He can comfort them personally. This will improve their relationship with God and also teach them to rely more on Him to meet all of their needs. The best help we can ever offer anyone is a personal relationship in Jesus Christ. They will appreciate our comfort, but their life will change for the better if we tell them about how much God really cares about them, enough to die on a cross in order to save them from eternal damnation (John 3: 16-18).

A few times in the Gospel accounts, we initially find Jesus exhibiting what we might term harsh or calloused behavior when people needed His help. But, as we read on, we see that God created these circumstances to show His glory. For instance, when Lazarus died, Martha condemned Jesus’ behavior and seeming lack of interest in His good friends’ plight (John 11:32). We all know that Jesus tarried in coming to see them, in order to set the stage for a monumental miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:5). The Holy Spirit will also lead us to do the Lord’s work in His way and timing in order to bring comfort to others as He comforts us.

Prayer:

We bless You, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Through the sufferings of Your Son, You comfort us in all of our afflictions. Then we are able to comfort others who are also afflicted, through the comfort with which You comfort us. Our hope in You is steadfast, knowing that, since we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, we also share in Your comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Thought for the Day:

“Rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” - 2 Corinthians 13:11
 





Thank you, Sarah Patterson, for the use of your photo.