Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Many of us consider ourselves fairly decent human beings: resilient, generous, kind, caring, etc., yet, how deep is our ability to love, especially in imitation of Christ? My finger is pointing at me. If Adam and Eve sold us out for an apple, what’s my price? Or shall I ask, what’s my vice? Is it pride, greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, wrath, envy, or the pursuit of control, power, adulation? What must I root out to love God more before it grows so large it topples upon me?
People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient [...] ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:2-4
I contend that one’s desire to love God more, predicts one’s ability to survive the storms and temptations of marriage. But how do we grow in desire? By spending more time with the Lord, in the Word, in prayer, in meditation, or in conversation. Over time, intimacy grows and the seeds of our desire will be germinated through God’s grace. As we draw closer to love Himself, we will desire to imitate Him more, thus showing greater love to our spouse. However, without prayer, how long will it be before the roots of our vices entangle us and develop into self-loathing or hate towards our spouse?
You too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11
Lent is a great time to reflect, identify, and root out all that doesn’t lead to holiness in your marriage. It’s also a good time to practice humility, kindness, self-control, and more words of affirmation and love.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31
Pray for all marriages, that during this Lenten season, more love will spring forth.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Plant some new seeds of love in your marriage and pray for Son-shine! Pass it on!
