Can you believe we’re wrapping up our first week? Scott and I both hope you have been encouraged by these posts. And just in case you missed any, here are the verses we’ve prayed so far: Matthew 4:19, Romans 8:5-6, Matthew 6:33, John 15:8, Luke 10:42, and 2 Corinthians 5:9. Today’s verse is one of my favorites and I think it’s a great way end this first week of #MarriagePrayers.
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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. — John 10:10
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Marriage is under attack. Families are under attack. There is no doubt our enemy, the thief, is waging a war against the very first relationship God created between humans. And, y’all, make no mistake: it is a war. This thief is determined to steal and kill and destroy. And his first target is in our homes.
But he can’t take whatever he wants. He has no power in our marriages and in our homes unless we give it to him. So, I say — DON’T! Don’t let this enemy who wants to steal our joy, kill our love, and destroy our marriages have a foothold.
How does he get in?
He’s opportunistic but he’s not omniscient. Our enemy can’t read our minds. He can only enter in the cracks we show. So what kind of openings are there in your marriage?
Unforgiveness?
Bitterness?
Apathy?
Secret sins like pornography?
Idolatry of your children over your spouse?
Adultery?
Pride?
Selfishness?
Here’s the thing, as long as we keep trying to hide all that “stuff” in the dark, this thief will keep moving his way deeper and deeper into our hearts and minds. He’ll whisper those same half-truths he’s been whispering since Eden …
“Did God really say marriage is forever?”
“If she doesn’t know, it can’t hurt her …”
“If he really loved you, he’d pay more attention. This is what he deserves.”
Moses spoke some powerful words to the Israelites in the desert:
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live. — Deuteronomy 30:19
Jesus is essentially offering us that same choice:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. — John 10:10
In our marriages, we have to choose: the path of absolute destruction or the way of abundant life.
We choose each other, every day. Even when it’s hard. Even when our expectations are not met. Even when we don’t like each other. Even when we’d rather go. We stay. We choose to love Him even more. We choose the abundant life He offers. And we choose our marriages.
We reject the lies of the father of lies. We avoid the destruction of the one who seeks to destroy everything. We put our marriages beyond the reach of the great thief. We protect our marriages from the one who brings death.
We choose life, life to the full, abundant life. We choose Him and, as we do, we choose each other. Day after day. Year after year. Good times, hard times. All the time.
~ Teri Lynne
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Today’s Prayer
Lord, help us be wise about the enemy’s schemes. Let us choose the abundant life You offer and reject the schemes of the thief. Marriage is hard sometimes but, even then, may we choose to trust Your plan and lean into Your Word. Lord, our desire is walk in the abundant life You have for us. Give us boldness to walk in the life You offer and to make our marriage a priority. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
#MarriagePrayers: May we walk in the abundant life He has for us. (John 10:10) Share on X**********
Thank you for joining us for #MarriagePrayers: 31 Verses to Pray for Your Marriage. Scott and I will be sharing a new verse and prayer every day throughout May, leading up to our 20th anniversary on June 1. You can find every day’s post indexed here. We pray you will be encouraged and challenged as you pray God’s Word for your marriage.
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