TAKING MARRIAGE TO A REHAB - THE EIGHT SECRETS THAT WORKED FOR ME.
Marriage beyond the rings
This a devotional book for the marrieds. This can be for a month and the task is to do a chapter per week and practice and perfect what you read.
WEEK ONE: REMINDING YOURSELF ABOUT THE MARRIAGE VOWS
Do you remember the day you said I do?
It is unfortunate some people do not remember this day because of the challenges they go through in marriage on day to day basis. Let me encourage that all marriage at one point get under attack but what matters is how the couple gets to react or handle the attack. That is what we are going to talk about in these devotions.
Do you remember the vow you made and that long awaited day? Let me just remind you in case you have just forgotten- “I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Has the worst happened or is it death that has made you part?
Sometimes we do not realize how powerful the promises we make in front of God and the people that believe in us and love us. Let us see what the Bible says;-
Genesis 2:24,” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
So why have you decided to become two? Is it because of the lack of finances, or because of the kids who have taken over the position for your spouse. Where the wife used to sit in front on the co-driver’s seat is now for your dear son. REMEMBER this spouse existed before the children so she/he is more important than the children.
Have we forgotten what Paul says in 1st Corinthians 13:4-7,” Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow - Ecclesiastes 5:4. It is simple just obey. Do what you must do. Be patient and kind and love your spouse.
Marriage is a sacred commitment. Let us always remember that and write it across our hearts.
WEEK TWO: STARTING ON A NEW PAGE
Having reminded ourselves about the weight of the vows that we made-how do we now start off knowing that our partners have been bleeding for a long time. We are going to follow what I called D’Lama Secrets steps. Here we go;-
1. Forgiveness-like we started off in week one, God has set the standards on which we must live and as a result carry ourselves to that life style. This what the Bible says;-
1 Peter 3:7: Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Matthew 6:14-15 : “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
John 8:3-11 : “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory but we have to live according to the standards of the word and enjoy peace and happiness because we are the makers of happiness in our homes. If the husband respects his wife, then the children will have a good example to emulate to respect their mother and the reverse is true.
WEEK THREE: CREATE TIME
Some of us personally inclusive have allowed our jobs/careers to take over the places for our marriage time. This is the challenge I want to give you this week that as you mend this relationship your will learn that it is important to create time on a daily for your spouse even if it is for 10 min.
Let me just take this take to share with you what inspired me to write this book. At this point in life, we have been undergoing a very difficult moment where we are struggling financially and as a result I have to work hard to take care of my family and make and extra income. This has led my marriage to the dogs and as I write this book I feel that there are some people that might be in the same situation I am. I therefore made a decision that I was going to follow the steps I have given you in this book.
Creating time entails a lot of activities. It might mean that you have to do the following;
i) Focus during working hours so that you do not have to do extra hours at work
ii) Reduce on the soap operas that you watch
iii) Stop carrying the laptop to the bedroom
iv) Put the kid early to bed
v) Cook/prepare delicious meals for him instead of leaving the house help to do it everyday
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
When I first read about the importance of creating time for marriage, I thought this would be making it like a script but in our next level we will look at what we can do with or during the created time.
We are all different and this means you will have to read you partner and know when it is best for your time. This is something that both of you can discuss and agree on. Once you have agreed, you have to make sure that you follow it. I know this will sound like a routine but you creativity in this is highly required. You do not always have to make out there are very other many options of activities that can be done as we will discuss in the next an last week.
See you in week 4
No comments:
Post a Comment