WOW! That is all I could think as my husband and I stood among a large group of couples at the front of our church last night. We all looked very different. Some old, some young. Some married for 50 years and some for only months. Some madly in-love, and some wanting to be madly in-love again. One thing we all had in common was the fact that we were renewing our wedding vows. Not just to each other, but to Christ.
Something my pastor said during the "HOT" series at church is that our marriage is to mirror Christ relationship with us. I thought a great deal about that. Christ loves me unconditionally. He loves me when I am in the wrong, He forgives me when I need forgiving, He doesn't keep score of who has given more, and He has my best interest in mind.
A strong and healthy marriage, just like our walk with God, does not come passively. It takes effort, devotion, and intimate communication on a DAILY basis.
I Corinthians 13:4-5 says:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
Try keeping this passage somewhere you can see it every day. It is a great prayer...married or not. "Lord, help me be patient in this situation and show kindness. Guard my tongue from angry words. Remind me that I need to put others needs before my own. Teach me to forgive as you have forgiven me."
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