Friday's Followup: How did you choose to show honor to your spouse (child)? What was the result? What are some other ways you could demonstrate honor in the coming days?
Love Intercedes
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2
You cannot change your spouse. As much as you may want to, you cannot play God and reach into their heart and mold them into what you may want them to be. And yet- that's exactly what most couples spend a majority of time trying to do- change their spouse!!
Insanity has been described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. At some point you have to accept that changing your spouse is not something you can do. But what you can do is become a "Wise Farmer."
A farmer cannot make a seed grow into a fruitful crop. He cannot argue, manipulate, or demand it to bear fruit. But he can plant the seed into fertile soil, give it water and nutrients, protect it from weeds, and then turn it over to God. Not every seed sprouts but most will grow when planted in proper soil and given what they need.
Cover this with prayer and you have an effective combination. Prayer really does work. It's a spiritual phenomenon created by an unlimited, powerful God. And it yields amazing results.
Do you feel like giving up on your marriage? Jesus said to pray instead of quitting. (Luke 18.1) Are you stressed out and worried. Prayer can bring peace to your storms (Philippians 4.6-7) Do you need a major breakthrough? Prayer can make the difference (Acts 12. 1-17)
There are some key elements that must be in place for prayers to be effective. But suffice it to say that prayer works best when coming from a humble heart that is in a right relationship with God and others. The Bible says, "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another... The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5.16
God gives us overwhelming insight into our spouses' hidden faults not for endless nagging but for effective kneeling. No one knows better how to pray for our mates than we do.
Turn your complaints into prayers and watch the Master work while you keep your hands clean. Pray for exactly what your mate needs. Pray for his heart, her attitude. Pray for your spouse's responsibilities before God. Pray for truth to replace lies. Pray that forgiveness would replace bitterness. Pray for a genuine breakthrough in your marriage. And then pray for your heart's desires- for love and honor to become the norm. Pray for romance and intimacy to go to a deeper level.
One of the most loving things you can ever do for your spouse is to pray for them.
Begin praying today for your spouse's heart. Pray for the three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse's life and in your marriage.
Do you feel like giving up on your marriage? Jesus said to pray instead of quitting. (Luke 18.1) Are you stressed out and worried. Prayer can bring peace to your storms (Philippians 4.6-7) Do you need a major breakthrough? Prayer can make the difference (Acts 12. 1-17)
There are some key elements that must be in place for prayers to be effective. But suffice it to say that prayer works best when coming from a humble heart that is in a right relationship with God and others. The Bible says, "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another... The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5.16
God gives us overwhelming insight into our spouses' hidden faults not for endless nagging but for effective kneeling. No one knows better how to pray for our mates than we do.
Turn your complaints into prayers and watch the Master work while you keep your hands clean. Pray for exactly what your mate needs. Pray for his heart, her attitude. Pray for your spouse's responsibilities before God. Pray for truth to replace lies. Pray that forgiveness would replace bitterness. Pray for a genuine breakthrough in your marriage. And then pray for your heart's desires- for love and honor to become the norm. Pray for romance and intimacy to go to a deeper level.
One of the most loving things you can ever do for your spouse is to pray for them.
Today's Dare
Begin praying today for your spouse's heart. Pray for the three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse's life and in your marriage.
5 comments:
Ok, praying over here today!
I Thank God for my sweetman daily, and humbly lift him to my Savior each morning that God will bless him and work in his life anew each day. God is faithful.
'Chelle,
We finally made it to the movies to see Fireproof! We both enjoyed it and thought it captured a lot of the stressors married couples face today.
Since we enjoyed ourselves so much and want to focus on our marriage we decided we will try to have a date night once a month! Probably not dinner and a movie next time-maybe just coffee! :)
I pray this movie will impact many and help marriages every where.
We thought we'd be in an empty theater since it has been out for a while and it was full!
This dare today is powerful!
I pray God will strengthen Mr P in all that he does for our family. May God encourage Mr P as the spritual leader of our family. May Mr P continue to rely on God in all of his decisions at work and at home.
May God soften Mr P's heart to have compassion for my short comings and weaknesses- so that I will be all that he ever dreamed of in a wife! May God encourage Mr P to share the details of his day so that I might share in his trials and triumphs.
Prayer is such an important part of a marriage.
I just finished posting Day 15 on "The Power of Your Love". This day was very difficult for me in many ways--another day of self-examination and how I have hurt my children in the past.
I hope you all get a chance to stop by and read what I have written. There were many tears associated with this post.
Beth
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