Full Steam Ahead!
How to move forward in your marriage.
It was a Friday night. My husband and I were on a sort of date night. We had been talking about many things that had been happening that afternoon, good things, spiritual things, and we were excited. We knew God was moving. We could feel it. It was getting close to dinnertime, so we decided to table our conversation and headed to the car, where we would continue talking.
During our drive, we had a rather negative encounter, via text, that could have derailed our entire evening. It was aggravating, upsetting, and at first I wanted to retaliate… but I didn’t. The content of the text is unimportant. But the message behind it is.
In our lives, in our marriages, we will have interruptions. Some will be aggravating. Some will be violent. Some will be exciting and happy. Regardless of which encounter or interruption you have, it is vitally important that you and your spouse stick together through it all. ALL. Because if you stay connected to Jesus you will discover that He “works everything together for good” (Romans 8:28) regardless of the interruption… and you can’t stop a move of God, no matter who or what comes against you!
Our particular encounter caused me to instantly become aggravated, then I wanted to respond in kind and argue. But my husband said, “Don’t do it.” I also knew better and was just spitballing – however, it didn’t negate the fact that I was hurt and angry.
It was at just that moment in which God dropped a little nudge into my spirit and I answered – not through text message, nor to the offender – but instead by praying out loud, in the car, through tears.
Praying for someone who has intentionally hurt you is one of the most difficult things to do. Oftentimes, that prayer may even come out as a, “God, get ‘em,” kind of prayer. But let me encourage you today with this: 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏.
Yes, it’s also okay to tell God exactly how you feel about it – He already knows – but in doing so, it becomes easier for you to identify your feelings and ask God to forgive you for being angry. Then, you can move forward, full steam ahead, and into the blessing He has waiting for you. Which brings me to the crux of this message.
My husband and I drove along in silence for a while. Then, suddenly, he spoke up and said, “I know why this happened and why we are driving down the road, fuming.”
“I’m not fuming.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because what were we talking about before all this happened? The devil doesn’t want us to get along tonight . He doesn’t want us to work things out. What are we getting ready to do? Speak at a marriage conference. So he sends one of his own to come in and derail us.”
“But he doesn’t win. We do. Satan is defeated because of Jesus.”
At this moment our conversation went back to talking about life with the Lord, and instantly, a plethora of information was dropped into both of us which had me grabbing pen and notebook and writing pages of notes.
I say all this to tell you: The enemy will do whatever he can to bait you, bash you, and bust you. It is his evil and devious plan to sneak in little attacks that get you so aggravated and hurt over things and people that you and your spouse start clawing and scratching at one another.
However, the Bible says that one can put a thousand to flight, and two can send ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30). What does that mean? That means that together, you and your spouse are a powerful, spiritual force to be reckoned with! Nothing, not even the gates of Hell, can prevail over you, all because you belong to Jesus!
We are living in a time and season when not only are our lives under attack, but our marriages as well. Satan has tried all of his same ol’ tricks. But the time is even shorter and he has amped up his attacks. Therefore, he is using harsher methods to do the same things he has always done. That’s why it is so important for husbands and wives to stick together. You are not each other’s enemy! Satan is your enemy! But if he can drive a wedge between you, believe he will do it! So BEWARE!!!!
When we ban together as husband and wife, know who we are in Christ, know Whose we are (children of God), and stand confidently together, Satan then knows that we know he is defeated and beneath our feet. And he has to flee.
Don’t let the devil derail you. Husband and wife, come together. Armor up (Ephesians 6:10-20)! Pray together. Defend one another. Love each other. Kick the devil OUT!
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ~James 4:7-8a, NKJV
THEN, and only then, can we can move forward, full steam ahead; in our marriage, our ministry, our family, our jobs and our lives.
Be blessed!!
