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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 17

‘The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.’ Psalms 34:19(NLT)

If you think your spouse is your biggest problem, then go take a look in the mirror.

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Your spouse is never your biggest problem. It’s that voice that may tell you that they are. Or that voice that may whisper that you’d be happier with someone else or better off alone. Or that voice that may whisper that your situation gives you the right to sin. Do not be deceived. Ask God to align your thoughts with His Word and His purpose for your marriage. Tell Satan to go to Hell and speak life over your marriage. Tell him he does not belong around you and he is not welcome in your marriage. Tell him to get out of your home and go back to his own. 

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 16

‘Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ‘ Romans 8:18(NLT)

The best kind of marriage is the kind where yesterday’s frustrations do not affect the quality of today.

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So many times, I’ve had to remind myself to “pick my battles.” I say that in my head quite often when Satan, or even my own flesh, tries to get me flustered about something that was done yesterday or something that was said months ago. Sometimes it is so tempting to bring up the past, but it is so not worth it. Not only because it puts a strain on your marriage but also because God never does that to us. Another thing I ask myself pretty often is “is it worth it?” Is it worth it to rob the moment or even the day of its joy because I am still thinking about that time__________? No, it’s not worth it. That’s one of those moments to let go and let God. That’s one of those moments to ask God to help me get that off of my mind and out of my system, and focus on all of the beauty and blessings I have with my spouse. That’s one of those moments to use my authority to tell Satan to get away from me in the name of Jesus. That’s an opportunity to remind him that he will not have his way in my marriage. Do not use the past as ammunition, leave it where it is, in the past. Thank God for today and show your spouse how thankful you are that you get to spend it with them.

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 15

‘Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.’ Ephesians 4:32(NLT)

“I still love you.” That’s the character of God. 

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No matter what happened yesterday. No matter what was said or what was silent. No matter if forgiveness was sought after or not. His mercies are new every morning. He is always ready to forgive. Not based on your character, but because that is His character. That’s the example He set for us. He is always willing to forgive us and show us mercy. That’s the example we are to follow. 

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 14

‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.’ Proverbs 4:23(NLT)

‘A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. ‘ Matthew 12:35(NLT)

The best thing I can do for my marriage is focus on God and His Word.

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I read this analogy one time that was talking about how what was inside is what will come out. They explained it using a coffee mug. They started out by asking this question, “If you were holding a coffee mug full of coffee and someone bumped into you, causing you to spill it — Why did you spill coffee?” The answer was that you spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your mug. Had there been hot chocolate, you would have spilled hot chocolate. Whatever was in the mug, is what you would have spilled. The analogy ended with this question, “So if life comes and shakes you — What will you spill? What’s in your mug?” That is such a good analogy. If you are consistently filling your mug with good and godly things, if you are persistent about getting God’s Word into your system, your marriage will be built on solid ground. Because those are the things that will surface when a storm shakes you.

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 13

‘For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”’ 1 Peter 1:16(NLT)

Be someone your spouse  can count on and trust.

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One way you can reflect God in your marriage is to keep your promises. God doesn’t break His promises based on your behavior and you shouldn’t break yours based on your spouse’s behavior. Look to God and ask Him to help you be a vow honoring spouse and protect you against any lie that Satan tries to tell you. He will always attempt to pull you away from the words that you said on your wedding day when the “worse” rolls around, but you said, “for better or worse.” Be determined to show your spouse that you meant it. 

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 12

‘You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.’ Psalms 31:3-4(NLT)

Nothing can wreak havoc in your marriage unless it is given more thought than prayer, and more attention than Jesus. 

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It seems like so many times the attention we put on a problem turns out to be a bigger problem than what we thought the actual problem was. How many times have you been so worried or stressed out about something, just for it to work out fine? I know I do that all the time. I get so worked up about how we’re gonna pay this or that, or how we’re gonna make it to two different places at once, and then it works out fine. Why do things seem to work out fine? Because I am a child of God and while I was freaking out, God was sorting things out for me. He had a plan for my problem! He had an answer for my anxiety. As children of God, we have no reason to stress or worry. As children of the Creator of time itself, we can trust His timing. As Children of the King of kings, worrying is wasted time. We are covered. We are held. We are cared for. We are loved. We have an almighty God that is willing and able to intercede for us in any circumstance or situation, and work it out for our good. If there is something in your marriage that is sucking the joy out of your live, or if there is something in your marriage that has set up a roadblock in your hope, speak truth over those things right now in the name of Jesus! It’s just a matter of time! God is for you! He has a plan! He has a purpose! He is good! He is faithful! Trust Him! 

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 11

‘But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”’ Mark 11:25(NLT)

If I have learned one thing about getting along with my spouse, it is that Jesus treats me the way that my spouse wants to be treated by me. 

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Your spouse isn’t perfect, and it’s so important to realize that neither are you. It is so easy to forget all the times we’ve messed up, when our spouse messes up once. That’s why it is so important to remember the value of your marriage over the frustration of a moment. Take a minute to remember the way Jesus treats you when you mess up. He doesn’t panic or freak out or yell, He points you back to the Cross and reminds you that He still loves you. It is vital to our marriages to forgive, to remember how much we’ve been forgiven for, and to cling ever so tightly to the example of Jesus when it comes to the way that we treat our spouse. Ask God for guidance and grace when it comes to loving your spouse the way that you are called to. He is willing and able to help you every step of the way! 

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 10

‘And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.’ Luke 22:50-51(NLT)

When you hurt your spouse, you hurt Christ, too.

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Think of someone you love unconditionally. How would you feel if someone was rude or harsh towards them? Not happy, right? It would probably hurt you too, huh? You know that’s exactly how God feels about your spouse? That’s His child you’re dealing with, and it hurts Him when they are hurt or treated wrongly. That is such a huge form of accountability in our marriage, personally. I love God so much that it moves me to love and respect my spouse  when it is a choice I have to make rather than a natural reaction. If the way you love God does not change the way that you love your spouse, then I wonder how much you love either of them. Ask God to help you reflect love to your spouse in reverence to your love for Him.

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 9

‘You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.’ Song of Songs 4:7(NLT)

Compliment your spouse every day.

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Flood your spouse with compliments. Build them up publicly and privately . Let them know that you are focused on them and that you see the best in them. It will not only edify them, but watch how it does the same for you. Personally, we are big fans of compliments in our own marriage. It just feels good to be complimented, and also to compliment. For instance, if you wake up and you think your spouse is looking good, tell them. If your spouse cooks an awesome dinner, let them know how good it tasted. If your spouse does something to your home that makes it look a little homier, tell them how they added such a nice touch. If your spouse works hard to provide for your family, let them know that you are so thankful for their hard work. If your spouse has great integrity, let them know how proud you are of them for that characteristic. Compliments are refreshing, and we don’t believe that you can give too many! 

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31 Day Marriage Reset – Day 8

‘The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.’ Lamentations 3:22-23(NLT)

It is not like Christ to keep bringing up mistakes and failures from the past. It is however, like Satan.

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Jesus takes delight in you. He loves you! His mercies are new every morning. He embraces you today. Satan, however, reminds you of all the times you’ve messed up and he tries to haunt you with the past. Satan brings up your mistakes and tries to make you feel ashamed and unworthy. It is so important to ask yourself who you are reflecting in your marriage. Are you embracing today with your spouse, or are you focused on what went wrong yesterday? Ask God each morning to help you reflect His love and forgiveness in your marriage.

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