Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- May 2, 2012
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
Outside of a personal faith in Christ, the best gift a parent can give their child is a healthy marriage. This secure and stable environment gives little ones a large amount of peace. A husband and wife who learn to love and respect one another create a culture of calm in their family. Why would a child want to wander from a home where acceptance is assured? A marriage marked by service to each other motivates children to do the same.
We have to remind ourselves as a father and a mother that we were first a husband and a wife. Neglect of our marriage responsibilities puts additional pressure on our roles as a dad and mom. Productive parenting flows from a maturing marriage. So, effective parents wisely ask, “How am I investing in my marriage?” “Is it time to get away, before we drift away?” Parents who collaborate with Christ and one another win their child’s heart.
“‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:3
Has your affection for your child replaced your affection for your spouse? Yes, love for a child is different, but it is not meant to compete with your number one companion. Perhaps you pray regularly as a couple for your children to grow in Christ-like character and then pray the same for your relationship. Prayer promotes peace and creates patience. A joy filled marriage spills over happiness into your home, children, and friendships.
Furthermore, your home becomes a haven of hope and trust when you model dependence on the Lord. Your child depends on you to depend on God. When you look to Christ, as a husband and wife, you see truth and grace. The Holy Spirit will lead both of you to do the right things under His leadership. And, the Lord helps you become who you need to be for each other and for your child. So, surrender your marriage to Jesus and watch Him bond you to your spouse and give you wisdom as a parent.
“As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5
Prayer: Lord, how can our marriage grow into a great gift to our child?
Related Readings: Proverbs 1:8; Matthew 19:10; 1 Corinthians 7:28; Philippians 4:8-9
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That’s why we are going to counseling today pls pray
The print is too small now for me to read.
Prayed Tasha 🙂
god s this pray to you from me every day.
I have a huge burden upon myself and my family. I have a husband who is an alcoholic. He is also a diabetic. He is noncompliant when it comes to taking his meds, and has been in the hospital twice already this year. At the last visit he had a BAC of 0.4 and his sugar was below 20. The hospital said if my daughter had not found him in would have gone into a diabetic coma. He refuses to go to AA and continues to drink. We have 4 children together ages 18, 17, 11, and 10. I am an active christian and he is a nonbeliever. My children all believers as well. We have been married for 14 years. He doesn’t have a job and doesn’t seem interested in finding one. He also is not interested in higher education. When I come home from work he is usually drinking and it is hit or miss with housework/cooking. Needless, to say we don’t have any type of sexual realtionship. It is literally very hard for me to look at him most days, much less have respect for him. As a christian, I know this is wrong and unacceptable, but I’m being honest. I feel like I need to get a divorce, however, I am hesitant. My children and I have been praying for him for years. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I truly don’t know what God wants me to do.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! This is so true and so easily proven. Just try it, test it out…it works every time. Even in the midst of tense trials turn to your spouse and love him/her anyway, fake it if you have to…your children WILL notice. Interestingly, your hearts will notice as well and begin to soften towards each other. God is so brilliant…He certainly DID know what HE was doing when HE created us!!! Never doubt the creator and the intricate details HE fashioned into each of us. He meant us for Love and HIS love is never ending. Always thankful to Wisdom Hunters for your timely postings and pointing us in the right direction. I have not read my mail today but I sure look forward to reading this entire devotional..as usual. 😀 Grateful!
LaTesha,
Our heart goes out to you and you are in our prayers. I am so sorry you are in such a difficult situation. I have experienced first hand some of what you are describing, as a child of a mom and dad who really struggled to get along. Drug and alcohol abuse really damaged our home, along with domestic violence. It was a disturbing and sad time in my life that eventually led me to the Lord.
There are no easy answers, but I would highly recommend you have a community around you for prayer and support. Prayerfully seek out other mature Christians you can confide in and experience their comfort, encouragement and instruction.
God will give you the grace to love and respect your husband, even though he sounds unloveable and disrespectful. Continue to model for him Christ’s love, grace and forgiveness. Also, it is sometimes wise to seek out a professional Christian counselor.
LaTesha we will pray with you and for you. Gwynne Maffett is our prayer warrior for Wisdom Hunters and she will be lifting you and your family to our heavenly Father…
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Love in Christ,
Boyd
Jesus is working through you!! Keep being obedient to His instruction because it’s a blessing for others! Isn’t it amazing how God patterned marriage to reflect His relationship with us, his very own children?! And you know….he doesn’t get upset and stop speaking to us when we don’t cut the grass, wash the dishes, walk the dogs, and the list goes on. LOL!!!
Lord empower me to die to self so that you may live through me! Isn’t He so amazingly awesome?!!!!
LaTesha, I posted a comment prior to reading your post. I’m so sorry for the difficulty you and your kids are experiencing. Yes, I agree with the person who said to love him even though you have to fake it. It will become real because your extending, not your love, but the love of Jesus and the love of the Father! Girl, we don’t have any love to give! Our love is of the flesh! Our love is fleeting and inconsistent but His love is unconditional! Your husband needs to know the unconditional love of the Father! I can’t begin to imagine how hard things are but don’t put your hand to the plow and look back! Keep pressing forward through the tears and the hurt….keep pressing forward. And….start rebuking that alcoholic demon that has a stronghold on your husband. Command him to go in the name of Jesus! Remember you are in a war and the fight isn’t against flesh and blood. Put on your armor (Ephesians 6:11) and you and your kids rise up in the power and might of Christ and get that devil on the run. It won’t let go easily; so, don’t get discouraged….just keep praying. It has to loose your husband!
I agree wholeheartedly, however, what kind of advice is there for a single mom raising 3 boys whose father left for another woman? He is still with her but is very dedicated to his boys and sees them often. How do I raise strong christian men when they need a strong christian male role model? We are involved in church and my freshman is getting involved in a youth group. Their ages are 11, 13, & 15, so you can understand that this is a very crucial time in their lives to be without a good male role model. Thank you for your time.
Tiffany – Single parenting may be the hardest job in the world. My single parent mom raised me and my two younger brothers in my grandmother’s 800 square foot rental house. I understand as a child the financial, emotional and physical challenges.
Your boys are so blessed to have you as a mom. Your love for the Lord and them, is something they will never forget and it will mark them now and into adulthood as men who love well.
It took me a long time to forgive my dad for leaving our family when I was five years old. And mom’s bitterness toward my dad compounded my un-forgiveness. So, continue to honor and forgive your ex-husband even when he is not honorable and this will create a heart of security and love in your sons.
Lastly, I was blessed to have adult men as mentors during my teenage years. Coaches, Sunday School teachers, bosses, uncles, friends and neighbors stood in the gap and loved on me and my brothers. Gwynee (our Wisdom Hunter’s prayer warrior) and I will pray the same for your sons.
God is using you in a beautiful way, be encouraged. – Boyd
Thank you Stephanie and well said!
Thank you for the note Anna. We’ve made the font larger and darker. Hopefully that will help!