‘Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. ‘ Colossians 3:10(NLT)
‘And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.’ Philippians 1:6(NLT)
‘But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. ‘ 1 Corinthians 15:10(NLT)
‘And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”’ James 4:6(NLT)
‘Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ‘ Romans 5:1(NLT)
‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.’ Romans 5:3-5(NLT)
The Word of God tells us that when God created you, He designed you in His image. It is this Christlikeness that He is committed to developing in you. He has also created you with strengths, dreams, and gifts to fulfill your role in the kingdom. God is fully aware, too, of your humanity, your woundedness, and the darkness that assaults your life on the Earth. He understands that when you join with your partner in marriage, you will both, more than likely, bring with you your share of losses, lies, hurts, and unrealistic expectations. God is prepared and readied to restore you and your partner, but it always starts with you.
Let me introduce you to Becoming. In Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, become is defined as “to grow or come to be.” What I want to convey to you is the value of knowing yourself as God knows you: as you are constantly growing, learning, maturing; becoming more of who you were originally designed to be and what you were destined to do. There is no end to becoming if you will embrace your life as God shows it to you. As you give attention, every day, to your relationships, experiences, beliefs, and responses, inviting Jesus into them, it will help you to keep growing stronger, wiser, healthier, and more fully you.
Reflection: I trust as you journey together you will keep learning to know yourself and your partner as to what is uniquely true and wonderful about each other. May the love of Christ always be your center, to love well with the mindset of “what would love have me do?” In what ways can I be more affirming? What is God doing in my life to help me love and know my partner more deeply from the heart? May God’s grace keep you growing in knowing yourself and your partner in a deeper and more personal way. Remember, two healthy I’s create a healthy US in your marriage.
from Daily Habits Of Marital Intimacy