I wanted to share something I read this morning from a friend. It makes you think about some things....made me think!
Well here I am trying to think about what I can share with all of you tonight and the first thing that jumped out at me was my marriage. It's been about two months now for Courtney and I since we said "I do" and God has revealed so much about myself in that time. The most beautiful thing about marriage is that God created it and has given us all the guidelines for a successful marriage. Now it's been almost 10 years since I gave my life to Christ and the same reminder keeps popping up again and again... Serve God first. That will never change! It takes me some time to get back to that because I can mess it up pretty quickly but if our hearts and our eyes are constantly fixed on Jesus, all aspects of our life will be easier. Sure, we have some ruff patches. We all have. But God has promised us that he disciplines those that he loves! So don't worry.
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12
God also commands us to, 'love your wife just as He loved the church.' Wow! John Piper sums it up in his book Desiring God. He says, "Husbands should devote the same energy and time and creativity to making their wives happy that they devote naturally to making themselves happy. The result will be that in doing this, they will make themselves happy as well. For he who loves his wife loves himself. Since the wife is one flesh with her husband, the same applies to her love for him." Throughout the bible God reveals to us how important it is for us to serve one another. Not for recognition but for the pure joy of knowing that you are pleasing God. It's not about tallying up points and earning favor because God doesn't work that way. I'm talking about a pure heart and pure motives people!!! Pray for that. Strive for that. Jesus lived it, and we can also learn how to walk like He did if we follow Him closely. He reminds me of that everyday in my marriage. When things are great and she's happy, I'm doing my part. That brings me joy! Thanks for reading this today and I pray that God will continue to reach hearts and minds through this ministry. God has no limits, He loves you all and wants all of you. Give it to Him.
I think this would work great for not only any marriage, but any relationship as well. I strongly believe that when you make the effort to make others happy you will find happiness within yourself.
-xoxo
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