Marriage is an everyday decision.
Yes --- every day, you either move forward. You move backward. Or you stay in the same place as yesterday -- which is a move backward really.
My part of my marriage is personal. It’s up to me. Only me. It’s not a response to what my husband does … or doesn’t do. It’s not my reaction to his response of something I do or don’t do. Every aspect, every situation, every comment, every action is my own personal responsibility… one at a time. Moment by moment.
My part of my marriage is between me and God. How I do in this is a direct reflection of how well I obey what I know Jesus has said to me … personally. Some of these conversations have included instructions exactly like these:
“If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine.” Matthew 10:38
“And you cannot be My disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.” Luke 14:27
Did I mention EXACTLY like these?
So what is my cross? It comes back again, to putting aside my selfish ambitions. On purpose, I decide to respond in love, to forgive past wrongs, to think more highly of my husband, to find ways to out serve him (not an easy thing most of the time). To shoulder my cross is an ongoing awareness that love respects, honors, goes out of its way, makes dinner when I am tired because it blesses him so much. Some days my cross is laundry – folded and back in his drawers. Some days my cross is not arguing a point that I think I am more right. Some days my cross is leaving him alone to do what he wants to do --by himself.
None of these things are for his approval or recognition or even for him to notice! This is personal… very personal between Jesus and me. Together, we are counting the cost of what it takes for me to be more like Him. Looking at what steps to take. I am worth it. My marriage is worth it.
Yes --- every day, you either move forward. You move backward. Or you stay in the same place as yesterday -- which is a move backward really.
My part of my marriage is personal. It’s up to me. Only me. It’s not a response to what my husband does … or doesn’t do. It’s not my reaction to his response of something I do or don’t do. Every aspect, every situation, every comment, every action is my own personal responsibility… one at a time. Moment by moment.
My part of my marriage is between me and God. How I do in this is a direct reflection of how well I obey what I know Jesus has said to me … personally. Some of these conversations have included instructions exactly like these:
“If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine.” Matthew 10:38
“And you cannot be My disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.” Luke 14:27
Did I mention EXACTLY like these?
So what is my cross? It comes back again, to putting aside my selfish ambitions. On purpose, I decide to respond in love, to forgive past wrongs, to think more highly of my husband, to find ways to out serve him (not an easy thing most of the time). To shoulder my cross is an ongoing awareness that love respects, honors, goes out of its way, makes dinner when I am tired because it blesses him so much. Some days my cross is laundry – folded and back in his drawers. Some days my cross is not arguing a point that I think I am more right. Some days my cross is leaving him alone to do what he wants to do --by himself.
None of these things are for his approval or recognition or even for him to notice! This is personal… very personal between Jesus and me. Together, we are counting the cost of what it takes for me to be more like Him. Looking at what steps to take. I am worth it. My marriage is worth it.
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So true! And so worth it!
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