I have so enjoyed this series. This is the last one entitled Will you marry me? The focus will be on marriage. The creator of the universe, God, always had marriage in mind when He created us.
Mark 10:6-9 (NKJV)
‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
God joins a man and a woman in a covenant of marriage and the two become one in every area and facet of life. It's no longer ME, but WE.
FIVE IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONS OF A MARRIAGE
1. Covenant
God joins a man and a woman in a covenant marriage. The opposite of covenant is a contract. Here are some basic differences between a contract and a covenant.
Contract: agreement, protecting their rights, limiting their responsibilities, safeguarding their interest, break contract at anytime.
Covenant: relationship, solemn and binding, serving each other (as king and queen), two partners and their God, lifetime commitment. Divorce is NEVER an option.
This is the first foundation of a marriage. Its a covenant relationship until Jesus calls the husband or the wife home.
2. Communication
One of the greatest challenges in a marriage is communication. What kind of hearing do you have in your marriage?
God has created us with two ears and one mouth. I think He is trying to tell us something.
Stubborn hearing - you are just stubborn in every way and not prepared to listen to anyone's point of view or opinion.
Selective hearing - you choose what you want to hear or not hear. You switch off if you find it inconvenient.
Partial hearing - you misinterpret what has been said and you create a picture of what you think you have heard
Normal hearing - very few people have normal hearing
Remember to listen - ask questions to check understanding and then respond in an appropriate manner. Make this your goal every day with your husband or wife.
3. Chemistry
What kind of marriage do you really want to have, an overgrown garden? Guess what, if you do nothing in your marriage, this will happen on its own.
Or do you desire your marriage to be like a beautiful garden? This is only achieved by spending time, effort and money in cultivating a beautiful marriage.
Lets get practical
1. Spend quality time - DAILY
2. Keep making deposits
3. Use words of love and affirmation
4. Date nights - be creative and take initiative
5. Keep the fire of romance burning
Lets get practical
1. Spend quality time - DAILY
2. Keep making deposits
3. Use words of love and affirmation
4. Date nights - be creative and take initiative
5. Keep the fire of romance burning
4. Character
What character traits are you displaying in your marriage? Pray daily, that the Holy Spirit will be overflowing in your life because your husband or wife will experience the following in your marriage.
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness,self-control. Let this Fruit be evident in your life on a daily basis. With God all things are possible.
5. Christ
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Jesus Christ must be the third cord in your marriage.
Some practical advice
1. Pray daily for each other. Couples who pray together stay together.
2. Make Jesus the center of all that you say and do.
3. Attend church, small group, and start to serve in the church family.
4. Share the word with each other
A blessed and happy marriage is possible, if you choose to do it - God's way.
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