"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
Key question: Am I a spiritually-minded wife?
Key challenge: Can I view my marriage as my mission?
When I had my encounter with God in which He revealed to me just how my pride was affecting my marriage, a change in my thought process eventually resulted. After a long, hard, honest look at my dominant thoughts regarding my marriage, I had to admit they were not very spiritual. In fact, they were carnal. Perhaps the word carnal brings to mind some pretty extreme images. In reality, carnal thinking is simply anything related to fleshly, earthly, desires. Sometimes those can be extreme, but more often than not, they are disguised as "normal". For instance, my marriage thoughts were generally centered around either perceived needs I felt were not being met or with some behavior my husband had displayed that I was less than pleased about -- or both. If I view those thoughts through the lens of Romans 8:6, it is no wonder I had no peace in my marriage. In fact, my marriage was on the verge of death. I did often wrap those selfish thoughts in something that looked very spiritual, but when I stripped away everything, only my pride was left...and it was pretty ugly. The bottom line is, God has commanded me to be spiritually minded, to walk in His Spirit, in every season of my life. Some seasons are relatively simple; others, relentlessly difficult.
Choosing to be spiritually minded is challenging under the most ideal circumstances. Let's face it, most of us rarely find ourselves in the midst of ideal circumstances! In marriage, if one spouse is striving to be spiritually minded, and the other seems for a time not to have a spiritual thought in their noggin, the challenge can seem impossible. Remember, my friend. God works in the realm of impossibilities!
God's commands to his children are like his love and his promises -- unconditional. He does not place exceptions on the rules. He did not ask us to be spiritually minded only if those who affect our lives in the most intimate way are cooperating. He said to be carnally minded is emnity with God -- against God! Thus, the only option is clear! At times in marriage, husbands can make choices that are very painful for us. Some ladies deal with frequent thoughtlessness; some mean actions and/or words; some unfaithful eyes; some physical unfaithfulness; and others destructive addictions. These situations can hurt more deeply than we have the ability to express! Not only are they painful, but they are discouraging and can cause us to believe all kinds of untruths about ourselves, our spouse, our marriage, and our family. In spite of what injustices -- real or perceived -- we may encounter, God has certain commands for His children, and specific commands for wives. He did not say, "Wives, submit yourselves to your husband," if they are doing their job and loving you as Christ loved the church. God says, "Wives, submit yourselves to your husband, as to the Lord." The words "as to the Lord" are key in being spiritually minded in marriage. A command is a command, whether it is easy to carry out or seemingly impossible to carry out.
My prayer today is that we will each often examine our thoughts regarding our marriage. Am I consumed with only my needs in marriage? Are my thoughts toward my husband carnal? Do I view my marriage as an obligation or a mission?
I strongly believe that when two carnally-minded people become two spiritually-minded people in a marriage with God at it's center, God will use the two in powerful ways. Think of the potential! If your husband is not saved or has turned away from his walk with God, your choice to become spiritually minded will have an eternal impact. I am not promising your husband will soon or even ever get saved or choose to walk closely with God. What I am promising, is that your God will walk closely with you, and the results of that relationship will bring peace into your heart, into your marriage and into your home. It requires a commitment on your part. It requires persevering in godliness in some of the most ungodly, painful situations. But, the rewards are unequalled.
My friend, do you feel you have no good options when it comes to your marriage? Please hear me when I say, you do! You can choose to be spiritually minded regarding your marriage. You can choose to view your marriage and your family as your mission. Though I can't promise any specific results, I can promise life and peace in the places in your heart where death now lurks. Will you take the challenge?
Key question: Am I a spiritually-minded wife?
Key challenge: Can I view my marriage as my mission?
When I had my encounter with God in which He revealed to me just how my pride was affecting my marriage, a change in my thought process eventually resulted. After a long, hard, honest look at my dominant thoughts regarding my marriage, I had to admit they were not very spiritual. In fact, they were carnal. Perhaps the word carnal brings to mind some pretty extreme images. In reality, carnal thinking is simply anything related to fleshly, earthly, desires. Sometimes those can be extreme, but more often than not, they are disguised as "normal". For instance, my marriage thoughts were generally centered around either perceived needs I felt were not being met or with some behavior my husband had displayed that I was less than pleased about -- or both. If I view those thoughts through the lens of Romans 8:6, it is no wonder I had no peace in my marriage. In fact, my marriage was on the verge of death. I did often wrap those selfish thoughts in something that looked very spiritual, but when I stripped away everything, only my pride was left...and it was pretty ugly. The bottom line is, God has commanded me to be spiritually minded, to walk in His Spirit, in every season of my life. Some seasons are relatively simple; others, relentlessly difficult.
Choosing to be spiritually minded is challenging under the most ideal circumstances. Let's face it, most of us rarely find ourselves in the midst of ideal circumstances! In marriage, if one spouse is striving to be spiritually minded, and the other seems for a time not to have a spiritual thought in their noggin, the challenge can seem impossible. Remember, my friend. God works in the realm of impossibilities!
God's commands to his children are like his love and his promises -- unconditional. He does not place exceptions on the rules. He did not ask us to be spiritually minded only if those who affect our lives in the most intimate way are cooperating. He said to be carnally minded is emnity with God -- against God! Thus, the only option is clear! At times in marriage, husbands can make choices that are very painful for us. Some ladies deal with frequent thoughtlessness; some mean actions and/or words; some unfaithful eyes; some physical unfaithfulness; and others destructive addictions. These situations can hurt more deeply than we have the ability to express! Not only are they painful, but they are discouraging and can cause us to believe all kinds of untruths about ourselves, our spouse, our marriage, and our family. In spite of what injustices -- real or perceived -- we may encounter, God has certain commands for His children, and specific commands for wives. He did not say, "Wives, submit yourselves to your husband," if they are doing their job and loving you as Christ loved the church. God says, "Wives, submit yourselves to your husband, as to the Lord." The words "as to the Lord" are key in being spiritually minded in marriage. A command is a command, whether it is easy to carry out or seemingly impossible to carry out.
My prayer today is that we will each often examine our thoughts regarding our marriage. Am I consumed with only my needs in marriage? Are my thoughts toward my husband carnal? Do I view my marriage as an obligation or a mission?
I strongly believe that when two carnally-minded people become two spiritually-minded people in a marriage with God at it's center, God will use the two in powerful ways. Think of the potential! If your husband is not saved or has turned away from his walk with God, your choice to become spiritually minded will have an eternal impact. I am not promising your husband will soon or even ever get saved or choose to walk closely with God. What I am promising, is that your God will walk closely with you, and the results of that relationship will bring peace into your heart, into your marriage and into your home. It requires a commitment on your part. It requires persevering in godliness in some of the most ungodly, painful situations. But, the rewards are unequalled.
My friend, do you feel you have no good options when it comes to your marriage? Please hear me when I say, you do! You can choose to be spiritually minded regarding your marriage. You can choose to view your marriage and your family as your mission. Though I can't promise any specific results, I can promise life and peace in the places in your heart where death now lurks. Will you take the challenge?
