Bryan and I have been experiencing some minor difficulties within our relationship. We were lucky enough to share these difficulties with a small group we are currently attending through Crossings Church. We are so thankful for their loving hearts and prayerful acceptance of our struggles....
We are over joyed being here in Louisville, but are currently struggling in our marriage relationship. Both Bryan and I feel we have been fighting more than usual over the past few weeks. Typically when we fight we seek a resolution quickly and forget what we were fighting about even moments after the argument. Such a blessing! However, recently we have not fallen into our typical pattern. Obviously, this has caused a huge toll on us. Once you start arguing and do not have resolution its like a snowball effect which continues to get larger and larger until you cannot avoid it. We couldn't live like this much longer without bursting, so when it came our turn to share our highs, lows and prayer requests to the group we divulged our plight. (I sound British!)
While the group was praying for us i came to the understanding as to why Bryan and I are struggling.. I do not know where you stand with your understanding with spiritual warfare, but this is absolutely what I think has plagued us. Satan likes nothing better than to bring division to one of the most precious gifts God has given us; marriage. It makes sense. Ever since we started packing to come here he has tried to bring us down. We are a threat to his "kingdom". There is certainly a huge responsibility on our part to be exercising our spiritual disciplines in prayer and scripture reading; which undoubtedly aids in our defense, but we were not. However, thankfully we can take refuge in the fact that satan has been defeated by Christs death and resurrection. We have nothing to fear, but rather rejoice that we are not left to fend for ourselves, alone. Satan can try with all of his might to steal, kill and destroy, but God's grip on our lives is everlasting. Praise be to God!!!
Now having some much needed light shed on our predicament I am thankful we are experiencing this oppression. It means that God has much in store for us here as we begin to step into a lifetime of full time vocational ministry. I would rather be oppressed and on my knees than complacent and on my feet. So for now we are arming ourselves with the full armor of God and remaining thankful that we are instruments in the Redeemer's Hand.
We are over joyed being here in Louisville, but are currently struggling in our marriage relationship. Both Bryan and I feel we have been fighting more than usual over the past few weeks. Typically when we fight we seek a resolution quickly and forget what we were fighting about even moments after the argument. Such a blessing! However, recently we have not fallen into our typical pattern. Obviously, this has caused a huge toll on us. Once you start arguing and do not have resolution its like a snowball effect which continues to get larger and larger until you cannot avoid it. We couldn't live like this much longer without bursting, so when it came our turn to share our highs, lows and prayer requests to the group we divulged our plight. (I sound British!)
While the group was praying for us i came to the understanding as to why Bryan and I are struggling.. I do not know where you stand with your understanding with spiritual warfare, but this is absolutely what I think has plagued us. Satan likes nothing better than to bring division to one of the most precious gifts God has given us; marriage. It makes sense. Ever since we started packing to come here he has tried to bring us down. We are a threat to his "kingdom". There is certainly a huge responsibility on our part to be exercising our spiritual disciplines in prayer and scripture reading; which undoubtedly aids in our defense, but we were not. However, thankfully we can take refuge in the fact that satan has been defeated by Christs death and resurrection. We have nothing to fear, but rather rejoice that we are not left to fend for ourselves, alone. Satan can try with all of his might to steal, kill and destroy, but God's grip on our lives is everlasting. Praise be to God!!!
Now having some much needed light shed on our predicament I am thankful we are experiencing this oppression. It means that God has much in store for us here as we begin to step into a lifetime of full time vocational ministry. I would rather be oppressed and on my knees than complacent and on my feet. So for now we are arming ourselves with the full armor of God and remaining thankful that we are instruments in the Redeemer's Hand.
