2 Powerful Weapons in the Fight for Your Marriage - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - December 3

2 Powerful Weapons in the Fight for Your Marriage
By: Amanda Idleman

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. - James 5:13

Life is filled with highs and lows. Navigating the ups and downs of life as a couple can be a challenge. Thankfully, God’s Word gives us some insight on how to approach our hardships and our joy. God doesn’t leave us on our own in either season. In our marriage there is no struggle He isn’t present for or celebration He doesn’t know about.

I know the enemy wants to sell us the lie that when we are in conflict with our spouse, we are utterly alone. Hopelessness is the devil’s best way to keep you from pushing through the struggles you face in your marriage. He loves to whisper the lie that says your marriage will never change. This is precisely why the Bible instructs us to turn to God in prayer when we suffer.

1. Pray When the Days Are Hard

The reality is that you are never alone in your marriage, even when you and your spouse are at odds with one another. The fact is that no one can change without the help of Jesus in their lives. Prayer fights the lies of the enemy over your marriage! Crying out to God in hardship is one of the best ways to be reminded that you are never alone. Acknowledging that you need God’s help and power is a vital first step in seeing change begin to happen in your life.

When your marriage suffers, bring it to Jesus. Bring all the frustration, desperation, loneliness, or anger. He is not repelled by honesty. He already knows the state of our lives and hearts. You will not offend God with your sin, in fact, when we struggle, He pleads with us saying please come to me first. He died to take away your sin and pain!

2. Praise When the Days Are Light

Another weapon we can use to fight for our marriages is gratitude. Let’s not forget about the happy moments. God is good and He created marriage because through it we can experience many of the greatest joys of our lives. Our response should be one of praise when we get the privilege to walk through joyful times in our married life.

Remembering to praise God can be an easy detail to forget! Often times we take the good for granted and only turn to God in hardship. God invites us back to Him in both the ups and downs. Praise Him on your honeymoon, on your summer vacation, when you welcome children into your home, on sweet dates; whatever the joy give glory back to God!

It’s our ability to see God in the good that prepares us for the bad. If we don’t have the ability to notice God’s grace, provision, and kindness when it is right in front of our faces, how then will we recognize it when life is heavy? We need that ledger available in our minds of all the ways God has already come through for us to lean on when doubt, worry, or suffering enters our lives.

What kind of season do you face now in your marriage? Are you barely keeping it together or are you loving every minute of life? Either way, God is there and He wants you to look to Him in each and every season of life brings your way. Ultimately, He is our key for a godly marriage that lasts a lifetime.

Amanda Idleman is a wife, homeschooling Momma to three amazing kids and is passionate about encouraging others to live joyfully. Amanda also loves to write as a freelance writer and on her blog (when she finds a spare moment for it). You can find out more about Amanda at her blog rvahouseofjoy.wordpress.comor follow her on Instagram at rvahouseofjoy.

Related Resource: How to Make Your Prayer Habits Stick

Have you ever thought: "I wish I would have prayed first?" 

Remembering to make prayer our first option over others in times of crisis, need, or our everyday lives can be challenging. We've all experienced the many distractions that circumvent our prayer intentions.

Join Rachel on Untangling Prayer as she shares James Clear's 4 laws of behavior change and how they apply to our prayer lives. 

You won't want to miss the amazing answer to prayer and sweet affirmation she also shares as a beautiful example of how God works in our lives today! If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe to Untangling Prayer on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Rachel also has a new book called Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments.