You Can Make a Difference in Your Marriage!
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009submitted by: preachergreg
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar asks his audience, “How many of you believe there is one thing you can do today to make your marriage worse?” All hands go up. Then he asks, “How many of you believe there is one thing you can do that will make your marriage better?” Hands rise at a slower pace. Why? We’ve been conditioned to think that marriage improvement is a complex matter and that little can be done when the flames of passion have become smoldering embers.
Empowerment brings hope. Understanding you possess the ability to make your marriage better will help stop the fruitless practice of blaming others. You will never have total control over anyone but yourself. You are the only one who can detoxify your words and infuse positive, affirming, and nurturing communication. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). You are the only one that can demonstrate your gratitude and respect for the one with whom you made a covenant. The Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12) calls for you to take the initiative.
Transformational living is counter-cultural. While 40-50% of marriages are ending in divorce, yours can have a new beginning. God can take any situation and turn it around! He’s in the business of surprising us! When we believe our circumstances are hopeless, He waits for an invitation for intervention.
What can you do today to make a difference?
1) Release your anxieties to Him in prayer (1 Peter 5:6,7)
2) Identify your contributions to problematic areas of your marriage (1 John 1:8)
3) Humble yourself before God and draw near to Him (Jas. 4:6-10)
4) Keep angry, critical comments to yourself (Jas. 1:19,20)
5) Speak affirming, nurturing words of encouragement (Eph. 4:29)
6) Forgive (Eph. 4:32)
Don’t wait for someone to someday do something. It’s your marriage.