Everyone brings in baggage in a marriage. And the moment we allow these unresolved past issues get the best of our marriage, it never ends well. I proved this in my own marriage. Every conflict and issue designed by the enemy to destroy us, I allowed and fell for. Even when my issues were just and legit, my ways simply weren't. It was during such conflicts that my pride was at its strongest. It revealed what I was made of. A selfish brat of a woman who didn't fight fair. I refused to work on our conflicts and I just bulldozed my way each time, so self-assured that I was right always. The bond that used to be strong slowly weakened and where intimacy used to be, laid enmity. I fought ugly, unjustly and unreasonably. I hit where it hurt the most and all were low blows.
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Lord, I know that all marriages go through conflicts, tests, rough times. Mine is not exempted. In the midst of such, I allowed it to get the best of me, permitted it to be the feeding ground for my resentments and hurt. Because I always wanted to win every conflict, I did not fight fair. I constantly used weapons that were detrimental to any relationships -- hurtful words, never stopping at just that but, but escalating to actions that were much more hurtful and destructive. Release me from this bondage, and help me mend my ways. Teach my heart to fight fair and put my foot on the brakes before I drive my marriage off the cliff. Guide me so that I may be able to turn around any conflict for good. More than the "we" boundaries, teach me to practice the "me" boundaries willingly -- to listen before I speak, deal with issues upfront, to not point fingers and to speak gently. Most of all, remind me constantly, love is not a fight but it is always worth fighting for. In Jesus name, Amen.
If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. -- Mark 3:25
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Lord, I know that all marriages go through conflicts, tests, rough times. Mine is not exempted. In the midst of such, I allowed it to get the best of me, permitted it to be the feeding ground for my resentments and hurt. Because I always wanted to win every conflict, I did not fight fair. I constantly used weapons that were detrimental to any relationships -- hurtful words, never stopping at just that but, but escalating to actions that were much more hurtful and destructive. Release me from this bondage, and help me mend my ways. Teach my heart to fight fair and put my foot on the brakes before I drive my marriage off the cliff. Guide me so that I may be able to turn around any conflict for good. More than the "we" boundaries, teach me to practice the "me" boundaries willingly -- to listen before I speak, deal with issues upfront, to not point fingers and to speak gently. Most of all, remind me constantly, love is not a fight but it is always worth fighting for. In Jesus name, Amen.
If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. -- Mark 3:25