We all seem to go into our marriage excited to start a new life with our spouse. We probably attend pre-marital counseling together and talk through all the issues that newlyweds may face. We walk down the aisle to wedded bliss, but we may not be aware of the spiritual battles we’re likely to face.
When I first got married, it was easy to keep my marriage safe. We were newlyweds and spent a lot of time together. We talked a lot, communicated about issues that came up and genuinely worked to keep each other first. Ever so slowly, though, we saw friends start to struggle in their marriages. We saw marriages where divorce was imminent and we noticed problems creeping into our own marriage.
As I took stock of what was happening in my marriage and in marriages around me, I realized there were 3 reasons I wanted to protect my marriage.
3 Reasons to Fiercely Protect Your Marriage - what reasons would you add? Click To TweetI began to change my battle plan - from arguing with my husband at times, to battling the real forces that were at work against my marriage. Don’t get me wrong - bad choices were made in our marriage, but I began to battle with the guidelines from Ephesians 6:10-17 rather than try to fight in my own strength.
A change in my tactics has not relieved me of the battle - I wish it did. Instead, though, it has taught me the value of fighting in the manner God intends.
Come with me over to Fulfilling Your Vows for the rest of the post. Read the 3 reasons to fiercely protect your marriage - and then share your own reasons!
I’m excited to share that I am contributing at Fulfilling Your Vows. They offer practical encouragement for real-life marriage. Mike & Carlie run the site and they have been through many challenges in their marriage. If you peruse the site, you’ll appreciate their perspective and their honesty. I’ll be there once a month, but there will always be an intro post here to let you know to click over.
Tip: Be sure to check out the related posts at the bottom of this post. The posts there are always related to the content in this post.
Click here to fill out the form for the Facebook group.
Linking up with Holley Gerth at Coffee for Your Heart, Alisa Nicaud at Salt & Light, Crystal Storms at #HeartEncouragement, Susan B. Mead at #DanceWithJesus, Arabah Joy at Grace & Truth, Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup, Sarah E. Frazer at #TuesdayTalk
Hi Rebekah! Hoping on over from Shannon’s link up.
We’ve been married 7 years now. And every time we attend a wedding, we see all the excitement and bliss. We don’t want to be discouraging but know the reality that things will mot likely change within a few years. This saddens me, that over time, someone will become more dominant than they used to. Opinions will spark up more. Tension will get built up more and more if we don’t fight and protect our marriages.
Thanks for your post!
Denise Renae recently posted…Getaway (Quarterly Review) Summer ’17
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Rebekah Reply:
June 20th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Yes, Denise, I have the same feelings at weddings, unfortunately. I feel like people enter into marriage (myself included) thinking pre-marital counseling was all the work they ever need to do for their marriage and that’s such a big mistake! For a committed marriage, we have to keep on working! Thanks, Denise!
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Great timing on this post with the sad news from Lisa TerKeurst and all the related postings. Fierce is the perfect word to use in our attitudes toward defending our marriages.
Michele Morin recently posted…Amazing Summer Movies for Families to Enjoy
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Rebekah Reply:
June 20th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Yes, such sad news about the loss of her marriage. It’s just a reminder that none of us are immune to any of this. Thanks, Michele.
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Wonderfully true, Rebekah. We have an enemy who does not want to see our marriages succeed. Exhaustion in not the time to give up the fight.
Erin @ burdenfreecaregiving.com recently posted…Mental Illness, Part I
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Rebekah Reply:
June 20th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
We sure do, Erin. Sometimes we need to re-evaluate and let God refresh us in His timing and then take up the fight again!
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Yes, yes, Rebekah. Anything of value is worth going to the mat for …
I’m grateful to have met you today …
Linda Stoll recently posted…In Praise of the Good Good Father
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Rebekah Reply:
June 22nd, 2017 at 6:58 am
I shared your quote with some friends because it grabbed my attention: Anything of value is worth going to the mat for. Thankfully we have the Lord to walk through our battles with us! Blessings!
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