‘A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.’ Ephesians 6:10-12(NLT)
We had just finished speaking at a camp in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington when a small plane buzzed overhead and landed on a nearby airstrip. A few minutes later the pilot was flying us over the islands of Puget Sound and we were approaching the lights of a local airport. “The most important thing about landing is the attitude of the plane,” said the pilot.
“You mean altitude, don’t you?” We asked.
“No,” the pilot explained. “The attitude has to do with the nose of the plane. If the attitude is too high the plane will come down with a severe bounce. And if the attitude is too low the plane may go out of control because of excessive landing speed.”
Then the pilot said something that got my attention: “The trick is to get the right attitude in spite of atmospheric conditions.”
Without knowing it, our pilot had given us a perfect analogy for what this page of your SYMBIS Report is all about — developing the right attitude in spite of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
It is no accident that some couples who encounter marital turbulence navigate it successfully while others in similar circumstances are dominated by frustration, disappointment and eventual despair. It is no accident, also, that some couples are radiant, positive, and happy while other couples are beaten down, defeated, and anxiety-ridden.
Researchers who have searched for the difference between the two have come up with all kinds of correlates to marital success, but the bottom line is that the most fulfilled couples are not lucky, they decide to be happy in spite of whatever life deals them.
After seeing the results of this page on attitude, what kind of mental strength do you want to put on your permanent prayer list for each other and your relationship and why?
from The SYMBIS Assessment Plan by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott