Love for a Lifetime

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.

The Process

Read: Romans 12: 1-2

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." - Ephesians 2:8

A whole new world opens up to us once we ask Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and to be our Savior. We were formerly unbalanced, self-centered and myopic in our thinking. Now, however, He sets us free from the bondage to self (Romans 6:22). This is called Justification. It is a free gift, which we do not earn, and which happens the instant we surrender our life to Christ. Glorification is also a free gift. We receive an immortal body the moment we see Jesus (1 John 3:2). In between these two significant milestones, we walk out the life-long process of Holiness.

In this progression of Sanctification, Jesus conforms us to His image (Romans 8:29).  All He asks of us is that we live a life worthy of this calling we receive from Him (Ephesians 4:1). We accomplish this by reading the Bible every day, by attending Bible studies at our local church, by worshipping with other Christians on Sunday morning, by talking to God all day long, by consulting Him about His will for us moment by moment, by telling other people about Him and by loving Him with all of our heart.

As we draw nearer to God and give Him our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), He fills our life with peace that surpasses anything we have ever experienced before in our life (Philippians 4:7). His joy supplies our strength. His love flows over us like a waterfall and infiltrates all of our human relationships. Most importantly, He opens the door for us to enjoy eternity in His presence.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You set us free and gave us Your new life. We are now a new creation. Help us not to be double-minded by continuing an unbalanced walk of having one foot still chasing worldly pursuits (James 1:8). Give us singleness of purpose and help us to surrender to Your will in everything we say and do.

Thought for the Day:

Live a life worthy of God’s calling by surrendering to His will and accessing His power to live according to His purpose for our individual lives (Philippians 2:12-13).