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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage Dating Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

SEX AND THE TRINITY

‘In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ John 1:1(NLT)

Charles Williams, close friend of C. S. Lewis and member of that illustrious group of intellectuals known as the Inklings, had a deep understanding of God’s design for human sexuality. In writing about Dante’s portrayal of romantic love in The Divine Comedy, Williams says that that the poet’s vision signifies three things.

First, it’s a picture of the Trinity: One God “subsisting” in Three Persons. Second, it’s a reminder of the Incarnation: humanity and divinity seamlessly bonded in the Person of Jesus Christ. Third, it’s a symbol of something Williams likes to call the “mystery of co-inherence”: the intimate communion of me in you and you in me.

Jesus expressed it this way in His high priestly prayer: “As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, [I pray] that they may be one in Us …” (John 17:21).

This is what the Image of God in man is really all about. The God we worship does not exist in isolation. On the contrary, He has been in community for all eternity. The three Persons of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – interact with one another in perfect communion. That truth helps us better understand what the apostle John had in mind when He said that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8).

It’s also why God said that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). After all, how could one man, who was by himself, reflect the full Image of a God whose very nature exists in communion? That only became possible when Adam saw Eve advancing toward him in the full splendor of feminine beauty and said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23).

All of this leads to an inescapable conclusion with regard to our sexuality. In a profound and wonderful way, our sexual lives are intended to mirror the reality and beauty of the Trinity in our marital relationships.

As theologian George Weigel explains, when we view God’s directives for our sexuality in this way, “the first moral question shifts from ‘What am I forbidden to do?’ to ‘How do I live a life of sexual love that conforms to my dignity as a human person?’”1 Sex, then, rightly understood and practiced, is in a very real sense fundamental to mankind’s function, purpose, and destiny within the miracle of God’s creation.

For more help, visit Pure Intimacy or Focus on the Family’s main website .You can also call the ministry’s Counseling Department for a free consultation at 855-771-HELP (4357).

George Weigel, The Truth of Catholicism: Ten Controversies Explored (New York: Cliff Street Books, 2001), 104-105.

from God’s Design For Sex

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Dating Devotion for Men Devotion for Women ZZ

PURITY

‘In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.’ 1 Peter 3:1-2(NLT)

Chastity isn’t a concept you hear much about these days, but it’s been an important Christian virtue for more than twenty centuries. Chastity is usually defined as sexual abstinence before marriage and sexual fidelity within marriage.

It reflects the biblical worldview that we have no inherent right to sex. The privilege of sexual union with another person is conferred upon us only by the wedding ceremony.

But chastity takes the idea of purity beyond the sexual sphere alone. It’s a crucially important piece of Christian faithfulness and discipleship. Its implications reach across the entire spectrum of Christian experience and touch every area of our lives.

That’s why the apostle Peter was able to tell women that it would be through their chaste conduct that unbelieving husbands would be won to faith in Christ. Peter wasn’t simply exhorting Christian wives to avoid extramarital affairs. He was suggesting that a life of single-minded discipline, focus, and devotion makes a deep impression on those who are not yet personally acquainted with the Lord.

We often talk in the church about the devastating consequences of having extramarital sex – life-altering troubles such as the possibility of STDs, unwanted pregnancy, and the cheapening of something that God intended us to share with just one other person.

But the most essential truth about chastity and purity is that turning away from unhealthy expressions of sexuality and romanticism better enables us to focus on God in a way that otherwise isn’t possible. “Blessed are the pure in heart,” said Jesus. And why? Because “they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Sexual immorality inhibits us from focusing on our truest Lover, the Lord.

Chastity, then, is first and foremost a spiritual discipline. Like prayer, fasting, study, silence, charity, and giving, it’s something God asks us to practice, not because it will get us into heaven, but because it will help transform us into new creatures.This kind of purity is not the mere absence of illicit sex, but an active conforming of one’s body, soul, and mind to the image of Christ.

For more help, visit Pure Intimacy or Focus on the Family’s main website .You can also call the ministry’s Counseling Department for a free consultation at 855-771-HELP (4357).

from God’s Design For Sex

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 4

‘At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. ‘ 2 Chronicles 20:22(NLT)

‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ‘ James 1:19(NLT)

Lastly, we move into the portion of prayer where you ask for God’s intervention. We started with praising God and focusing on His character attributes and gifts. Next, we went to thanking God for the aspects of marriage or our spouse which produces gratitude. And once the foundation of praise and thanksgiving is set, you are free to boldly approach God with your needs of intervention or requests for blessings.

When you do, you will discover like King Jehoshaphat in today’s passage that God Himself can rout the enemy (Satan), turn things around, or deliver your husband from whatever it is you are seeking on his behalf. 

Whether you use a guided prayer like this one or you opt to follow another pattern of prayer from Scripture, remember, the main thing is your abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray for blessings and intervention. (Remember: this portion of prayer is dedicated to asking God to either bless or intervene in certain areas of your marriage or in your husband’s life.)

Gracious Lord, James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Help my husband and me to remember this when we communicate with each other. Help us to always lead with love, and give each other the benefit of the doubt in understanding what the other seeks to communicate. 

Give us a relationship that’s conducive to being open, honest and authentic with each other. Help us in our busy schedules to cultivate time to focus on communication. 

Give me courage to discuss those troubling areas in my life and marriage and not withdraw in silent or hidden frustration. Help me speak about these areas to my husband in love with open honesty. Grant my husband an open and receptive heart without anger or defensiveness. 

Please also add an element of greater spontaneity and fun into our communication. Let us flirt with each other more in what we say and how we say it, and revive in us a spirit of playfulness and cheer. 

Lord, as You know – there are certain aspects of our communication where we struggle and misunderstand one another. Please intervene. Give us clarity of thought and respect for each other. Help us discern what the other person is communicating. Also, help us to have a gentle spirit toward each other. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Use this pattern of prayer on any need you have in your marriage – that of praising God, thanking God, and then asking for His blessings or intervention – and watch how God moves to meet you and your spouse in a new and fresh way. 

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 3

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

‘He prayed, “O Lord , God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”’ 2 Chronicles 20:6-12(NLT)

Now, we move on to the second portion in the pattern of prayer based on 2 Chronicles 20:6-12. This portion focuses on giving God thanksgiving for specific and general things in your marriage.

Thanksgiving differs from praise in that praise identifies various attributes and gifts of God, which reflect His character and provision. Thanksgiving narrows in on the particulars (big or small) for which you are grateful. 

Feel free to pray this guided prayer word for word, or adapt to your own personal situation. It’s completely up to you. But do try and focus on the pattern of prayer when praying for your husband. As a reminder it is:

  • Praise God
  • Thank God
  • Pray for blessings and intervention

Thank God (Remember: this portion of prayer is dedicated to thanking God for specific aspects, areas and blessings in your marriage). 

Lord, thank You for my husband. Thank You for entrusting me with the blessing and responsibility of loving Him well. Thank You for the qualities you’ve placed in Him which enable me to be a better person, qualities such as (name them here). 

Thank You that You gave me a husband – someone to help along life’s journey. I particularly appreciate (name something specific) about him. Something You have taught me through my relationship with my husband is (name something here). Thank You for this as well. In Christ’s name, Amen.

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 2

‘“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ‘ Matthew 7:7(NLT)

‘He prayed, “O Lord , God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”’ 2 Chronicles 20:6-12(NLT)

‘But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ‘ John 15:7(NLT)

In today’s entry, we are going to look at the first portion of the prayer pattern adapted from 2 Chronicles 20:6-12. But let’s review some from yesterday where we saw that Christ desires to give you your desires when you abide in Him. 

In John 15:7 we saw that when you abide in Him, His desires will be your desires. In this way, Jesus uncovers one of the secrets of prayer: 

Your desires should turn into your prayers. Ask for what you desire. 

In fact, one of the most surprising insights I have ever had about prayer is that the more that I abide in Christ and the more His words abide in me, the more I am fully and completely released to pray for everything I desire. Jesus connected abiding with Christ and obedience to His commands as the underlying cause of asking for what you desire. 

If you abide, you will ask what you desire!

You aren’t instructed to pray for things merely because you know you are supposed to—like an obligation. Instead, Jesus expressly states you are to ask for whatever you want. If you want something, then ask and don’t stop asking until you get an answer, whether that’s yes or no.

Let’s look at an example of the first portion of our prayer pattern. Feel free to pray this guided prayer word for word, or adapt to your own personal situation. It’s completely up to you. But do try and focus on the pattern of prayer when praying for your husband. As a reminder it is:

  • Praise God
  • Thank God
  • Pray for blessings and intervention

Praise God (Remember: this portion of prayer is dedicated to praising God for what He has given you and your spouse). 

Heavenly Father, relationships are one of the most important things You have given to us. And the marriage relationship is especially important, valuable and purposeful. I praise You for creating us as relational beings who can benefit from each other and build into each other. 

I worship You for Your wisdom in providing us in our marriage the ability to communicate, whether through words, touch, texts or a myriad of other ways. I praise You for the desire You have placed within us to connect with others, as we are made in Your image. And I ask that You increase that desire between my husband and myself even more in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. In Christ’s name, Amen.

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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Devotion for Women ZZ

3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband – Day 1

‘But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ‘ John 15:7(NLT)

‘He prayed, “O Lord , God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”’ 2 Chronicles 20:6-12(NLT)

Do you ever think that praying for what you want is selfish? Or do you know we should pray—but ever feel guilty about praying for what you wish would happen? Friend, Jesus says: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

In one of His final conversations with His disciples, Jesus revealed a very strategic secret that we would do well to remember also: When we abide in Christ, and His Word is in us, we can ask for whatever we desire. 

Because when we abide in Him, His desires will be our desires. 


Prayer doesn’t require lofty, magical words, but Scripture does give us established patterns for how to approach the throne of God and talk with Him about our needs.

Here’s a pattern taken from 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 which you can adopt when praying for your husband:

  1. Praise God.
  2. Thank God.
  3. Pray for blessings and intervention.

You can adapt this pattern for anything, really. But use it when praying for your husband and you could become a force for greater good in his life. In the next readying entry, we will give you examples of each of these prayer points. 

from 3 Ways To Pray For Your Husband

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage ZZ

“Why Did God Create Marriage?”

‘Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. ‘ Genesis 2:18-21(NLT)

Scripture places tremendous emphasis on the sanctity of marriage. To understand why God treasures marriage, we need to only look at why God created marriage. God gives us four reasons for this creation right up front, in the book of Genesis:

1. He declares:
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” God charges man with procreation and the best way to fulfill His plan was through marriage.

2. God says:
“And subdue it and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” In other words, man is to be in partnership with his wife in managing the earth and caring for the environment.

3. God said:
‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.’” Humankind’s deep need for companionship is key reason God established marriage.

4. But that’s not all:
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” God wants the husband and wife relationship to be priority over all others on earth, with commitment for life, and to enjoy the gift of sex.

God is clear – from the very beginning – that marriage is the first and most important institution of man. Let us treat it as a sacred treasure.

from Christian Marriage

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage ZZ

“The Bond Between Husband and Wife”

‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Genesis 2:24(NLT)

God has decreed that the most important human relationship in a marriage is our spouse. Men and women, we are to leave our father and mother and be joined to our spouse. It doesn’t mean that we love our parents or our children less, but the priority should always be with our spouse. In other words, the husband and the wife are called to be best friends. There should not be a person on this earth that we are closer to than our spouse. And if there is, our priorities have gotten out of whack and we need to confess our sin to God and ask Him to forgive us and help you reprioritize your life.

I speak often about the importance of a weekly date for a husband and wife. I call it the ‘falling in love all over again’ time. Anne and I still have our weekly date, after 40 years of marriage. Every time, it’s like we are bonded together once again. This continues to amaze me that after all these years I can look at her and say, “Anne, isn’t it amazing? We’ve spent all this time together, and there’s nobody we want to be with more than each other.” There is nothing like having your spouse as your best friend. It’s a real key to marriage as God designed it to be.

from Christian Marriage

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage ZZ

“The Uniqueness of Christian Marriage Part 3”

‘“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.#10:28 Greek Gehenna. ‘ Matthew 10:28(NLT)

‘For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ‘ Ephesians 5:25(NLT)

There can be no higher, more difficult calling than husbands leading their marriages like Christ leads the church. It may sound easy on the surface, but let me remind you that Christ gave His life for the church. The husband is never to be a dictatorial or an authoritarian leader.

Husbands, we are called to lead like Jesus. That is, we are to be servant leaders. Guys, if we are to lead like Jesus, we have to be willing to lay down our own lives for our wives. Now that is a high calling. And there is not a man who can come close to doing that on his own, because we are so sinful. We are so selfish. We tend to be so domineering and bossy with our wives. The only way we can come close to living this out is to walk with Christ, to submit our own lives to Christ, so we can try to fulfill the role that he has given us.

In doing that there, there is another, higher purpose. You see, the reason the husband is called to lead his wife like Christ leads the church, is to help her grow to become all that God has created her to be. It is a servant leadership role. It’s not putting a woman into emotional shackles. It’s not the husband making all the decisions, wanting no input from his wife. It is the husband recognizing that as a servant leader, he wants to do all in his power to help her grow to be the woman God created her to be.

Wow – that is a demanding calling. Yet husbands who lead like Christ and love their wives like Christ love His bride, the church, surely makes it easier for their wives to follow their lead.

Husbands, are you willing to take that role in your marriage? Will you do whatever it takes to be worthy of the role God has ordained you to have?

from Christian Marriage

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1st Marriage 2nd Marriage ZZ

“The Uniqueness of Christian Marriage Part 2”

‘So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ Genesis 1:27(NLT)

‘For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.’ Ephesians 5:22-24(NLT)

I want you to understand a few things about this teaching. First of all, it doesn’t mean that the husband deserves for his wife to submit to his leadership. I do not deserve it. No husband deserves it. Secondly, it doesn’t mean that the husband is better than the wife. It doesn’t mean that at all! We are equal in Christ.

It’s important to note that the Bible does not teach for women to submit to men. This passage is telling the wife to submit to her husband, but it doesn’t teach for women to submit to men as a general rule. As a matter of fact, because we are all as Christians called to submit to earthly authorities, if you’re a man and your boss at work is a female, you’re called to submit to her authority at work. If you’re a man and you appear before a female judge in court, she is representing government authority, you’re called to submit to that female judge. There is nothing in Scripture that teaches that women are to submit to men in general.

But for some reason, in Christian marriage, God calls on the wife to submit to her husband. Now, I don’t know why God has chosen for the man to be the leader in Christian marriage, but I do know this. God has a symbol that He wants Christian marriage to share with the world. And that is that Christ the bridegroom is the head of the church and the bride of Christ, the church, is called to submit to His leadership. God has decided on these differing roles of a husband and wife to symbolize Christ’s relationship with His church. Does that mean that a woman is to be a doormat and let her husband dominate or abuse her? Absolutely not! It just means that God, in His sovereign wisdom, created these two equal, but separate roles in a Christian marriage.

from Christian Marriage