Marriage Tips: Don’t Repeat Eve’s Mistake

Handpicked. By God Himself. Not love at first sight, but there was a definite nudge from the Holy Spirit when I spotted my future husband in Freshman English at S. H. Rider High School.

But years later, a questionable whisper tickled my ears, suggesting my choice was less than perfect.

How quickly I forgot God’s role in the matter. Here are some marriage tips to help you remember what I forgot.

Marriage Tip 1: Remember God’s Character

In Genesis 24, Abraham sent his servant back to the old country to find his son Isaac a wife. The servant, full of questions, asked what-if after what-if. Abraham replied, “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me . . . he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.”(Genesis 24:7 NIV)

If you keep reading, you find God orchestrated events to bring Rebekah to Isaac. Was He any less faithful to bring my spouse to me?

Yet, time after time, I found fault with God’s choice.

I forgot that God loved me, and His plan was to prosper me and not to harm me. Consequently, any partner of His choosing would be good—very good.

Marriage Tip 2: Remember Your Spouse’s Character

I forgot my husband’s star qualities and the many things he got right day after day after day. A sinister voice in my head was all too willing to point out his every shortcoming and to stir the waters of discontent.

And I listened.

Now, I focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy about my husband.

Marriage Tip 3: Remember the Enemy’s Character

It was an old trick. Satan used the same one with Eve in the garden, and I had fallen for it too. The lie that said God couldn’t be trusted—only the enemy served it to me with a new twist. When my husband stumbled, as we all do, Satan whispered that my man couldn’t be trusted either.

And I fell for it. More than once. Not only did my trust in my husband falter, but his trust in me faltered as well.

Proverbs 14:1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” It’s hard to build when you’re blinded by a lie, but tearing down? Any fool can do that, and I had.

The enemy lies. Don’t forget it.

Today, I pray for discernment. I don’t want to be deceived, done in by a  well-crafted lie. I question my thought life more closely and take captive those that seem suspicious.  I refuse to focus on the negative, and I shut down the sinister voice in my head.

And my husband? I can see God’s fingerprints all over him.

Questions:

Are you aware of any God moments in how you met or in your courtship with your spouse?

Do you believe God chose that person for you?

Does the enemy try to undermine your confidence in God’s choice? How?

Do you stand firm? How?

What marriage lessons can you teach your kids? God’s role in choosing a spouse? The enemy’s desire to destroy a marriage?

What lessons about marriage or about your spouse are you teaching?

Tweetables:

God orchestrated events to bring Rebekah to Isaac. Was He any less faithful to bring my spouse to me? Click To Tweet
A sinister voice in my head was all too willing to point out my spouse's every shortcoming and to stir the waters of discontent. Click To Tweet
Any partner of God's choosing would be good—very good. Click To Tweet
It’s hard to build when you’re blinded by a lie, but tearing down? Any fool can do that. Click To Tweet

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