Month: September 2020

‘“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord . “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55:8-9(NLT)

‘The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.’ Romans 8:11(NLT)

‘The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’ Psalms 32:8(NLT)

‘But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.’ John 14:26(NLT)

‘For, “Who can know the Lord ’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 2:16(NLT)

‘Take delight in the Lord , and he will give you your heart’s desires.’ Psalms 37:4(NLT)

A Timeless Truth

Envisioning our ideal marriage and God’s purpose for it fuels us to become all he intended.

What do you want for your marriage?

No, seriously: What do you really want?

In your most perfect vision, what does your marriage relationship look like? If you’re like most people, answering that question may take a few minutes, which we encourage you to do. After all, our best answers often bury themselves beneath more familiar answers concerned with what others expect or desire for our marriage. In other words, we are not asking what your parents, kids, or pastor wants for your marriage; we’re not asking what do you want to want or what you know you should want; we’re not even talking about what you feel obligated to provide for your marriage. We’re simply asking: As a couple, what do you really want for your marriage? When’s the last time you intentionally set aside time to dream together as a couple?

When asked, most couples say they want to live full-on for God’s purpose—but more often than not, find themselves stuck wondering, “How do we know if our vision aligns with God’s vision?” They hold back from embracing their dream out of a fear it may not be spiritual enough.

Isn’t it easy to allow the fear of mistaking God’s purpose with our own to keep us from dreaming?

From the time we’re little, we’re taught, “God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8−9), and, though that’s absolutely true, we often forget to balance that truth with other Scriptures that remind:

• God’s Spirit empowers and guides our thoughts to align with His (Romans 8:11).
• His Spirit corrects and convicts us if we get off track (Psalm 32:8; John 14:26).
• We possess the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and when we seek Him first in all things He gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4)—our very passions, when surrendered to our Creator, actually come from Him. Those passions and the dream you already envision for your marriage reveals His purpose.

Today, envision your ideal marriage and God’s purpose for it; that vision will help fuel your marriage to become all He intended.

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose

‘When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.’ Acts of the Apostles 18:26(NLT)

‘The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.’ 1 Corinthians 16:19-20(NLT)

‘Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.’ Acts of the Apostles 18:18(NLT)

‘Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. ‘ Romans 16:3-4(NLT)

‘All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer.’ Acts of the Apostles 2:42(NLT)

‘And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ‘ Acts of the Apostles 2:44(NLT)

A Timeless Truth

Couples who build on common ground are not easily divided.

When a couple determines to build on common ground and move toward a common purpose, their house stands firm and will not be divided. And we can’t think of a better biblical couple to illustrate God’s design for marriage than Priscilla and Aquila. Though Scripture only exposes small glimpses from Priscilla and Aquila’s life, one thing’s for certain: they mastered the art of building on common ground. Four books of the New Testament show glimpses into their story and highlight ways they embraced God’s big idea for their marriage. They did everything together and shared everything in common. They taught and instructed together (Acts 18:26), they led a church together (1 Corinthians 16:19-−20), and they traveled sharing the gospel together (Acts 18:18). They impacted others together so greatly that they gained respect and favor from everyone they met (Romans 16:3−4).

God reveals the perfect steps for oneness in the First Century Church (Acts 2:42).

Do you want to grow together, spiritually, with your spouse? Then devote yourselves to listening to the teaching of God’s Word. Make time to connect with God, together. The overflow of your spiritual connection will impact other aspects of your relationship, just as it did for the early church. Something about their spiritual commitment overflowed into their financial commitment to one another (Acts 2:44).

Want to know the secret to financial oneness? It begins with spiritually recognizing that everything is a gift from God. Acknowledging that everything comes from God and belongs to God is the beginning of wisdom—it alleviates the pressure of ownership and positions us as stewards over God’s property. Maintaining a heart of stewardship evens the playing field, allowing couples to simply ask: “God, what do You want to do with Your provisions?”

Acts 2 also reveals a strong emotional bond emerging within this growing group of believers. Amidst their busy schedules, believers connected together and committed to fellowship as families. Do you want blessing? Significance? Connection? The early church understood that building on common ground—spiritually, financially, and emotionally—perpetuated all three. The result? Pentecost, revival, and God’s big idea, that two are indeed better than one.

Take a moment to consider: How can I build on common ground with my spouse to better expand our influence, together?

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose

‘“A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. ‘ Mark 3:24-25 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MRK.3.24-25

‘As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.’ Proverbs 27:17 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.27.17

‘If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. ‘ 1 Corinthians 12:15-18 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1CO.12.15-18

A Timeless Truth

Devaluing one another’s difference leads to dishonor … dishonor instigates dissension … and, dissension precedes destruction.

One thing’s for certain: Marriage affords plenty of opportunity for offense. What once caught our intrigue, if not protected, can easily cause our irritation. It’s found in all the “He never talks. She never shuts up. He’s so particular. She never pays attention to details. He’s a night owl. She gets up before the rooster. He flies by the seat of his pants. She schedules next year’s spring cleaning,” and thus it goes on and on. There is a myriad of trivial differences that discourage and distract couples from their purpose.

Be on guard. A house divided against itself will fall (Mark 3:24−25). Hold up. Don’t breeze by this familiar truth. If we devalue one another, we eventually dishonor one another. If we dishonor one another, then dissension grows between us. When dissension escalates, destruction becomes inevitable.

One of the greatest opportunities presented in marriage is appreciating our spouse’s differences—not just tolerating them, but actually celebrating them.

So, why did God make us so different?

No doubt you’ve read the Proverb, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (27:17). As believers, we tend to celebrate this great saying with a high five or a chest-bump sort of merriment. But in our enthusiasm we sometimes overlook the reality of the process. Think about it for a moment. For one piece of iron to sharpen another, friction is imperative. Sharpening occurs as one smooth, sharp edge of iron rubs against a separate rough edge of iron. As the two edges connect, the rough edge grinds away to reveal a smooth, sharp edge. The differences, not the similarities, supply the friction necessary to produce the sharpening. Hmm, sound familiar?

In a marriage relationship, God intended diversity and desires for us to celebrate and leverage one another’s differences. In 1 Corinthians, Paul encourages believers to embrace their unique design and reminds that God designed each one distinctly, just as He desired (12:15-18).

As you pursue discovering God’s purpose for your marriage, remember your differences will make you stronger and empower you to accomplish more together than you ever could apart.

Take a moment to ask: Have I made my spouse my opponent or my partner? How could I better celebrate their design?

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose

‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ‘ 2 Timothy 3:16(NLT)

‘He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.’ Psalms 23:3(NLT)

‘He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.’ Isaiah 40:29(NLT)

‘And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ‘ Romans 8:28 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ROM.8.28

‘At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Luke 1:41(NLT)

‘As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ‘ Matthew 1:20(NLT)

‘Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.’ Judges 6:36-40(NLT)

‘“Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.’ Exodus 4:3-4(NLT)

A Timeless Truth

God reveals His purpose for your marriage through His Word, confirms His plans through your circumstances, and affirms ongoing direction through people.

No couple reaches their destiny in a single leap. Instead, they fulfill God’s purpose for their marriage by putting one foot in front of the other, moving as God directs, and by constantly evaluating, “What has God called us to? What has He promised? And where is He leading?” Pretty simple, huh? Yet how often do we meander through life never asking those questions? Or, when we do ask, wonder if we possess the ability to discern God’s purpose. Thankfully, God reinforces His directions clearly, confidently, and concisely.

He will reveal His purpose for your marriage through His Word, confirm His plan through your circumstances, and affirm ongoing direction through people.

God’s Word provides direction, purpose, and the measuring stick to discern whether what we’re thinking is His idea, our idea, or something else entirely. God will never instruct us to do something contrary to the Bible. All Scripture is God-breathed and was given to instruct and lead us (2 Timothy 3:16). His Word promises that God will lead the steps of the righteous (Psalm 23:3; Isaiah 40:29), and will use all things—the things perceived as good and the things perceived as bad—for our good (Romans 8:28).

All throughout Scripture, God demonstrates that He uses circumstances and people to confirm His purpose. He offered Mary comfort when John the Baptist leaped within Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:41). He reassured Joseph through dreams (Matthew 1:20; 2:12−13, 19, 22). At Gideon’s request, He confirmed His purpose by saturating a fleece and surrounding it with dry ground. And then, at a second request, God saturated the dry ground but kept the fleece dry (Judges 6:36−40). For Moses, He turned a rod into a snake to reassure him that He was with him (Exodus 4:3−4).

Sometimes we want God to fill in all the sketchy details with a “go do this and go do that” kind of list. Instead, God typically calls each one of us to walk our journey in faith, and, as we faithfully follow, He confirms His purpose through His Word and affirms His purpose though our circumstances.

Consider how God is speaking to you through His Word, confirming through your circumstances and affirming through others.

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose

‘And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ‘ Romans 12:1(NLT)

‘throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.’ Ephesians 4:22-24(NLT)

‘And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ‘ Philippians 4:8(NLT)

‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ 2 Timothy 1:7(NLT)

‘We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.’ 2 Corinthians 10:5-6(NLT)

‘By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ‘ 2 Peter 1:3(NLT)

A Timeless Truth

You find what you are looking for.

All leaders of thought agree that we become what we think about, we get what we expect, and we find what we’re looking for. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said it this way: “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7). The key to this profound revelation is applying it to our everyday thoughts and marriage. After all, if King Solomon and every other leader of thought is right, that our outcome begins in our mind-set, then if we constantly focus on our issues, we unwittingly perpetuate the subject of our thoughts—the problem. However, if we harness our thinking to align with God’s, embracing the truth that we are created on purpose for a purpose, we reap the benefits of living fully and powerfully in the design He ordained for our lives and marriage.

Don’t be confused. We aren’t saying problems, adversity, and conflict don’t exist; unfortunately, they’re a part of every relationship. However, the solution, triumph, and victory for our marriage hinges on our ability to shift our focus from our personal Goliaths to the magnitude of God’s power and purpose for our relationship. When couples begin to shift their attention from the problem and focus on living God’s purpose, life happens.

All throughout Scripture, God encourages us to not be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:1), and to put off the old man with all its deceitful ways and be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:22-24). The Apostle Paul writes, “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). As couples, we are not powerless to our thoughts (2 Timothy 1:7). We can demolish every lie opposing who God says we are by capturing our thoughts and making them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5−6).

Take a moment to ask yourself: Do I live problem-focused or purpose-focused in my marriage? God designed you distinctly for a purpose and equipped you with everything you need to fulfill your marriage purpose (2 Peter 1:3). Today, focus your attention on God’s intention for your marriage and exchange your problems for His purpose.

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose

‘For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.’ Romans 11:36(NLT)

‘“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’ Matthew 5:14-16(NLT)

‘“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”’ Revelation 4:11(NLT)

‘for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.’ Colossians 1:16(NLT)

‘So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ‘ John 13:34(NLT)

‘This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. ‘ John 15:12(NLT)

‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ‘ Ephesians 5:31-32(NLT)

‘Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.’ Revelation 19:7(NLT)

A Timeless Truth

The foundations for our marriage purpose must be established by God and for God (Romans 11:36).

Regardless of your specific marriage purpose, God intended for every marriage to make Him known (Matthew 5:14−16), bring Him pleasure (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16), and demonstrate His unconditional love (John 13:34; 15:12).

Make God Known (Matthew 5:14−16)

In Matthew, Jesus provided an undeniable application for every marriage; our light should first provide light to our own household. Why? Because we reveal who we really are behind closed doors. How we respond, interact, and speak to our spouse and children offers the clearest indication of our heart’s condition. If we want to leave a lasting legacy and live a life of significance, we must live God’s purpose within the walls of our home. Your marriage purpose will always bring life to one another and to your family first.

We Were Created to Bring God Pleasure (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16)

In The Practice of the Presence, Brother Lawrence writes, “Our sole occupation in life is to please God.” Can you imagine how different our world would be if our sole occupation and only ambition was to bring God delight? It brings God pleasure when we extend our gifts back to Him, for His service, and live according to the purpose He designed for our marriage.

Demonstrate His Unconditional Love (John 13:34; 15:12)

When we first married, unconditional love seemed impossible. We both reservedly offered our love with conditions. Julie struggled with insecurities, stemming from earlier childhood abuse. It took years to unravel unspoken vows of “I’ll never let another man hurt me.” Likewise, Greg conditioned his love with qualifiers of “I won’t be controlled by anyone.” As you might imagine, our individual mandates obstructed our ability to express love unconditionally. Yet one of God’s greatest invitations is to love as He loves us. All throughout Scripture, God illustrates His love for the church by comparing it with the love of a husband and wife (Ephesians 5:31−32; Revelation 19:7).

As you continue on your quest to seek and discover your specific marriage purpose, remember: Every marriage purpose will make God known, bring Him pleasure, and demonstrate His unconditional love.

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose

‘Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.’ Isaiah 46:10-11(NLT)

‘Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”’ Genesis 1:26-28(NLT)

Statistically, it’s been suggested that 92–98 percent of evangelical believers struggle to identify their God-given purpose. With such a staggering statistic, it only stands to reason that the percentage for couples identifying their God-given purpose together must be even higher. Living out an individual’s purpose with clarity is tough enough, let alone combining it with another’s. Kids, career struggles, and our everyday demands muddy the already murky waters of uncertainty. Yet God’s big idea, His very purpose for your marriage, will be accomplished. Just as we see in Isaiah 46:10−11, He declares His plans from the very beginning and ensures they will be done.

What is God’s big idea?

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule…'”  (Genesis 1:26).

Did you catch it?

God’s big idea is Adam and Eve.

And that plan hasn’t changed. Since the beginning of time, God created man and woman to bear His image. He destined their union as the crowning jewel to His creation, saving the best for last. His invitation to “fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28) supplies the framework for every future generation and presents a prerequisite for accomplishment.

God’s purpose for Adam and Eve’s existence would only be completed if they fulfilled His assignment together. And since then nothing’s changed. The task of governing, ruling, and multiplying required Adam and Eve’s interdependency—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—the same that’s required of you with your spouse.

God created you and your spouse for a work that only the two of you can accomplish together. He foresaw all your differences and carefully combined them together to complement one another. With great loving care, He fashioned you with common interests and instilled values to resonate with one another to make you one. With even greater care, God enmeshed and infused all of those qualities for His well-planned purpose. Why? Because as Ecclesiastes 4:9−12 reminds, two are better than one. Together, you will accomplish more than either of you could on your own.

Begin inviting God to reveal His purpose for your marriage and take steps toward living purpose-focused, not problem-focused, in your marriage.

from 2 Are Better Than 1: Uncover Your Marriage Purpose