Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Whether you’ve been married for 1 year or 50+ years, there is a good chance you’ve had a few challenges in your marriage. Perhaps there have been a few less-than-kind words exchanged. You have wounded and been wounded. A natural reaction would be to become very defensive or withdraw. But what benefit is that?
Perhaps St. Teresa of Calcutta’s advice is worth considering. If someone (such as your spouse) says hurtful things to you, promptly go to Jesus and ask Him if it's true. (That takes courage!) If it is, it is a grace that light has been shed on a potential blind spot. If it isn’t, let it go and walk in freedom.
We need to turn to Jesus often for truth and comfort. He is gentle and kind, and will give us the courage to accept the truth, if only we are open to his grace and choose to cooperate with it! His arms are always wide open, waiting to embrace us. But often we turn away in pride, thinking, “I can handle this” (without Jesus). Perhaps we need to take the lies we tell ourselves to Jesus too!
I am struck by Jesus’s humility, as he did not make any decisions without the Father. He confidently surrendered completely to the Father to guide Him.
“Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does.
John 5:19-20
The Father loves us! Jesus loves us! So go to Jesus! Be consoled by His embrace. Listen to His heart! Absorb His words! You will then be able to approach your spouse again, to speak the truth in love, perhaps apologize, and even show some mercy.
The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morning—great is your faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:22-23
Continue to uplift each other in prayer, especially for those too weary and defeated to pray.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Pray for more grace!! Pass it on!
