Marriage is a Battle

 My heart has been burdened over the last few months. Though I have seen this problem all the days of my life, it seems to be becoming much more prevalent. Marriage and families are under attack in a way I have not seen in my lifetime. Maybe it's the pandemic, another affect of it. But I believe it could also be a sign of the times. Relationships that were strong, all breaking a part, bit by bit. Those in the battle seem weak and tired, not willing to fight. 

God likens marriage to the relationship we have with Christ. We are His bride. God speaks of marriage with high regard and it is an institution He created. The Bible even states that God hates divorce. So, when I think of God hating it, I also think of the enemy who must love it. After all, you destroy so much when you end a marriage. I know because it is a part of my journey. I am divorced.

Now I do serve an awesome God, and I am remarried. God took what evil meant for destruction and He blessed me with a wonderful husband. It is one reason I stay away from this topic, because in no way am I disregarding the gift of my marriage, and in no way do I want to hurt my husband with my words. However, it is all a part of the story I think God wants me to share. The life I am living is not the one God intended. It has scars and consequences, and it happened because I took my eyes off the Lord. I became tired of fighting for the marriage He intended, and I took matters into my hands. I stopped leaning on God. I stopped fellowshipping with His people. I stopped praying. It happened slowly, bit by bit, until I let go. The world was there to cheer me on, pointed out all the reasons I could do this and deserved to do this. I believed the lie, and walked away from God's will. 

The results...my relationship with the Lord suffered. My children suffered and will always carry that with them. My life was changed, and I will not know what would have happened if I continued in His will. 

Now as I look and I listen to the stories of others, I am watching them also just lay down the fight, or never even try to fight. They see marriage as disposable. They think because their vision of what it was going to be isn't happening, then they can just walk away from it. They are not seeing the consequences. Anxiety is high. Children are changing. Young people are missing in our churches. Our culture is changing. It is all connected and it is such a devious and sneaky way for the enemy to divide and destroy. 

It leaves my heart burdened and heavy. It has become a large part of my prayer life. I want to be in the Lord's army fighting this battle. I want to see marriages healed, relationships mended. I know it will take faith, prayer and commitment. Please let me know if I can pray for you and your marriage. Keep your eyes on the Lord. This world is full of lies and deception. He will equip you for the battle. It will be hard, but He will give you rest. But living in God's will is always the route to take. 

"So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

Matthew 19:6

Fellowship

 

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Revelation 3:20

Is there any greater fellowship than to sit and have a meal with someone? It is usually a scene with laughter, sharing of stories, digging deeper into memories and ideas, and of course, enjoying the food. It is where we get to know one another. Families long for days with their children at the table, first dates are often a dinner shared, and many relationships are built around the table. It is an intimate place for fellowship. 

So, imagine, Jesus standing at your door, and wanting to sit and fellowship with you. But in order for him to enter, we must hear his voice and open the door. 

What keeps us from hearing Him? Is it because we are so busy inside, preparing the room or the meal. We get so busy doing, we don't get quiet enough to hear our master knocking.

 Or is it the noise in our lives? What are we listening to? What has our attention? How much of the world are we letting in...because we know the world is loud, distractive, and demanding. Is He there and knocking, yet you are unable to hear. 

Or maybe you hear the knocking, but you're not willing to go to the door and open it. You are afraid of what He will see. You aren't prepared for His visit. You don't feel the meal is good enough, or the house clean enough....you want to be more prepared. 

Let us each take the time to listen, be willing to have quiet and open the door to the greatest meal and fellowship we can imagine. He is there at the door, and wants to come in. We do not need to be prepared, we just need to open the door. 

Let's Try This

 

It is pretty bad when this so called writer hasn't posted a blog here in two years. It is also funny, my last two posts, years apart are my #oneword posts for New Years in the past.  Yet, here I go again. 

My one word for 2021 is WRITE. In recent years, before deciding on my word, I prayed. My lack of writing has been coming up for a month now. I know I need to get back to it. I have been reading some of my writing. I might not ever write a novel or publish a book, but I do know God has given me a talent. I think we are to use our gifts to serve. So it is my hope and prayer that the words I write this year do just that. 

I do not know where this word will take me. I have chosen a verb before, because I know they require action. That is all I am asking of myself, is to write. It might be in a notebook, or on a blog, or hidden in my google drive. I just need to write.

So, back to a writerly habit. 

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace..." 1 Peter 4:10