Month: September 2018

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
Proverbs 19:20 NIV.

How many of us are accepting of discipline? Not I. However when we accept our discipline we then start moving toward the solution and then a correction of whatever brought on the discipline in the first place. I hated being disciplined but I always learned something when I did. Here we see the importance of learning from the advice given and discipline provided because in the end we will be wiser for it. We grow in character. In your life what advice can you begin listening to, what discipline should you be accepting of. If your thinking …hmmm I don’t know, let me help. Its probably the one thing those close to you point out all the time. You know it but refuse acceptance. Think and pray on that .. Amen.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

This is from my reading this morning. I feel it is crucial for any relationship new or old.

One of the greatest dangers to any marriage is unforgiveness. Without the commitment to forgive and wipe the slate clean on a daily basis, a person’s heart becomes hardened. Unforgiveness is an open door for the devil. The devil uses unresolved anger to accuse your spouse, to you!! Unforgiveness destroys intimacy and passion in the relationship. You will end up being withdrawn and negative. These are danger signs of a heart hardened by unforforgiving. Forgiving a person simply means that you release them from your judgment. It just means that regardless of your spouse’s response, you are going to make sure your heart remains pure. The ultimate reason we forgive is that God has forgiven us. It’s time to decide to forgive. Don’t let the devil use hurts and problems to infect your heart with his lies. Forgive or you will not be forgiven yourself. AMEN.

This is from ONE by Jim Evan’s

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

We all know sticks and stones can hurt me but words never will. Who ever made that up was ………. lol.

Literally, the power of life or death for any relationship is in your mouth. You possess an incredible ability to give life or death, encouragement or discouragement, truth or deception, praise or criticism, hurt or help to those around you. To understand this issue fully, you must first recognize how your own family history and the culture around you can shape the way you communicate. You communicate the way you do today because of your family. But you can change it if it is not positive. To some words are thrown around as if they don’t matter. WRONG!  You have the power of death and life in your tongue. Unleash that power toward your spouse in a positive manner and you will see the truth of what the Bible says. Choose to be negative and you will destroy your very own. Amen.

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:25 NIV

Naked and no shame. In reading this marriage devotional it says the word naked is being used to mean “To be exposed”.

This is from the devotional:
This is what makes intimacy on every level possible in marriage. When you are truly “naked” without shame in marriage, you can share your lives with each other.

So what if your not as God designed in your marriage?

The good news is this—couples can find their way back. It begins as you take responsibility for your actions and apologize for any damaging behavior. As you both do this, you will create an atmosphere of purity in your relationship.

To keep the purity in your relationship, you must be careful in how you treat each other. You also must monitor your words, attitudes, and actions to make sure you don’t become sloppy and take each other for granted. When you make a mistake, apologize quickly. This is the only way.

As you see taking responsibility and monitor yourself and dont take the other for granted. How would you feel if you left things unsaid and the Lord decides your loved one needs to be with him. Dont wait start today to be who God designed you to be. Amen.

This from the marriage study I am reading. I love it.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24 NIV

Marriage only works if it is first in our lives.. second to our relationship with God. When marriage is first, it thrives. In fact, it’s how you fall in love and stay in love. Because you prioritize the relationship and focus on each other first, there is a great deal of passion and good will in the relationship.

Priority means you give each other the first and best of your time, energy, and focus. Priority must be proven daily in real terms and not just in words. Good intentions mean very little in marriage. The only thing that matters is what you do and continue to do consistently. For your marriage to work, you must establish it as the first priority and be willing to protect it against good or bad things that try to distract you.

Most of the time the distractions are legitimate yet still no excuse for not putting your marriage first. Remember love is a choice. You choose to be married so choose to make your marriage the best it can be. Amen.