Marriage

"God help me and forgive me for being much more interested in my own good rather than my husband's good, and failing to contribute to my husband's blessing. Lord, how can I respond in such a way as to bind us together in deeper harmony and deeper unity in Jesus Christ? Lord, show me what I can do to make my husband's life as easy and as pleasant as I can."  by Elisabeth Elliot

"Lord, he's your man. He's the one you've given to me—his peculiarities and his personality, you gave me. I'll take it. Help me Lord; show me ways, Lord, to make his life as pleasant and as easy as I can. Now Lord, you work in him the changes You think need to be done. Fulfill your purposes. Help me to remember 'in acceptance lieth peace. ' "(Amy Carmichael)
I was talking to a lady recently who has been struggling with her marriage.  Her husband has cheated on her and she was struggling with forgiving him.  She would "forgive" him, but then he would do it again.  She's frustrated, hurt, angry, bitter, unforgiving.....wanting him to hurt like she does.  My devotions that day had to deal with being a forgiving person! I am still amazed at how God works things in our lives.  So I shared some of this with her.  Unforgiveness is the root of hate.  Ouch! When we are entertaining unforgiving thoughts, they will turn to hate inside of us.  When we make the decision to forgive someone one day does NOT mean we won't have unforgivenss towards them on another day.  Forgiveness is a choice we must make every day....even if we don't feel like!  If we let our emotions dictate how we should forgive others....we never would!!  There are moments when we think there is no possible way to forgive things that were done to us....but with God ALL things are possible!!!  He is the only ONE who can help us. When our minds take off in the direction that it should not go...quote scripture..."whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil. 4:8.  

I have been praying a hedge around my husband, myself and my children.  There is so much negatives things going on in the world that it is hard sometimes not to be fearful.  Desperation, agonizing guilt, fear of anything....We are many times caught unaware of the devil's attack on our mind.  We believe things that come to mind and get caught up in despair.  I have been trying to sit down and play the piano and sing praises to Jesus.  When I hit fear, despair it takes me a bit to remember what I need to do.  So this is a reminder to me!  "My hope is in the Lord! I will trust in Him, and Him alone!"