|
Christian Marriage Advice For A Happy Marriage
Christian Marriage Advice
3. You must fight your marriage problems with divine weapons (Points 1 and 2)
Our third marriage advice principle is you must learn to fight a spiritual battle with spiritual weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power...
Remember what Satan said to Eve that got her into this mess, "Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" Satan's strategy is to deceive us and to cause us to doubt God's word and His wisdom. But it is the very word of God that is our sword. You must know and apply God's word to your marriage battle.
4. You must recognize and repent of your self-centeredness.
Our fourth marriage advice principle is the hardest to deal with. It has to do with our own selfishness and self-centeredness. After planting seeds of doubt in our minds, the passions of our sinful selfish nature are aroused. Once Eve listened to Satan's voice and doubt entered in about what God said, the lust of her eyes rested on the forbidden fruit.
Suddenly, Eve's desire was for the one thing God told her she couldn't have...the one thing that would destroy her and Adam. How often do you dwell on the things you don't have in your marriage instead of giving thanks for the things you do? Before we go any further...Here's a piece of Christian marriage advice...
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:18
|
Stop reading for a moment, get a piece of paper and a pencil...
- First, take a few moments and think about how much you dwell on the things you don't have: material things, qualities in your spouse, emotional needs that are not being met, etc.
- Second, on your paper take 5 minutes to write down all the things you are thankful for. Write down all the material and immaterial things that God has provided for you. Take a few moments and give God thanks for the way He has provided.
Our selfishness can single handedly destroy our marriages. It's a powerful force. James said, "What cause fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it...(James 4:1-2)"
God's word admonishes married couples to be other centered...Paul gave us more than marriage advice when he wrote, "husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies (Ephesians 5:28)." This is divine wisdom for both husbands and wives to follow. Where you recognize your own selfishness repent of it and choose to love your spouse like they were your own body!
Finally, let's talk for a moment about...
Why would Satan care about destroying marriages?
Marriage is Satan's number one target because it was created by God to be a reflection of God's love and faithfulness. It's critical that you grasp the reality that Satan is trying to destroy your marriage.
_________________________________________________
5. Your marriage was made in the image of God
You see, marriage was designed by God as a covenantal union (A promise between two parties). A covenant between a man and a woman, to love, honor and cherish each other until death. God also has a plan to love and cherish His people forever, even when they disobey, sin and rebel against Him.
God remains faithful to those who are in Christ for all eternity...He says "never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Do you see the similarity in God's promise to His people and our traditional marriage vows?
It is precisely because marriage is a picture of God's love and faithfulness to His people that Satan wants to destroy it. Satan wants to destroy the image of God in the earth...that's why marriage is one of his primary targets!
Let's summarize the 5 Christian marriage advice principles you have just learned.
1. Your struggle is not against your spouse it is against Satan.
2. You must recognize Satan's strategy to cause you to doubt God and His word and to arouse conflict with your spouse.
3. You must learn to fight the marriage battle with God's divine weapons.
4. You must recognize and repent of your self-centeredness and treat your spouse's body like it were your own.
5.Your marriage was meant to reflect the image of God...that's why Satan wants to destroy it.
|
So here's some more Christian marriage advice to help you protect your marriage and make it GREAT!
- First, you need to understand what God's design is for marriage (we just covered some of those points above).
- Second, you need to know your role and purpose as husband or wife. After all if you don't do what you were designed to do all that will lead to is conflict and frustration!
- Third, you need to believe that pursuing God's purpose for you and your marriage will bring you the greatest joy, fulfillment and satisfaction that a marriage relationship can provide. This concept goes back to the design illustration...when you are doing what you were designed to do you will experience the greatest satisfaction.
- Fourth, don't put off getting marriage counseling help and using marriage resources to improve your marriage.
Unless couples accept God's principles they are just kicking against the goads so to speak. They will be caught in an endless pattern of conflict. It doesn't matter how much marriage advice you get, these patterns can only be broken by being willing to do things God's way. If you're ready, let's find out what God's ways are.
| 
