It's Pruning Time!

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

-John 15:1 - 4

God desires that we bear fruit. He wants us to produce both tangibly and intangibly so that others are affected by our lives. In order for us to bear fruit, we have to be pruned, however. In gardening, pruning is the process by which dead or overgrown branches or stems are cut away to increase fruitfulness and growth. Pruning doesn't always leave the plant looking pretty. Sometimes it may even look a little awkward, but each time it is making way for more growth. Can I suggest to you that God is using that wonderful spouse He has given you to help prune you? To cut way the dead and overgrown stuff? When we stand before the minister on our wedding day, draped in our lovely white dresses and sharp suits, we don't much think about how our lives are going to change dramatically after the honeymoon. We stand at the altar googly-eyed, surrounded by flowers and well-wishers. Many times we are thinking about the wedding and not the marriage. Yet, God is thinking about your future. He is thinking about perfecting you to maximize your potential for the kingdom, and your spouse plays a great role in that. Who else sees the "real" you? Your spouse knows what you look like first thing in the morning. They know what gets on your nerves and what excites you. They see the best and the worst version of you, and they love you any way. Who else is qualified to help prune you? I know that we don't like it when they tell us things that need to change. It is easy for us to shift the conversation to their flaws and shortcomings, but can I ask that you actually hear what they are saying? Could there be some truth to their message? Are there areas that you could stand some improvement in? Is your spouse saying that you don't listen? Or that you talk too much? Are they saying that you don't spend enough time with them? Are they asking for more intimacy or stricter financial reins? Maybe God is using them to speak truth that you need to hear. Maybe God is trying to cut back some dead stuff so that you can bear more fruit. Sometimes we have to receive the message regardless of the messenger. Instead of responding to your spouse with a list of their inadequacies, how about you take their concerns to the Father to see if there is any truth to it. If God says there is, then agree quickly and ask Him to help you work on it. I know I am asking a lot, but thank your spouse for pointing it out to you. This is where you have to spend plenty of time abiding in God so that your flesh doesn't take control. After all, you want to be exactly who God called you to be, right? Submit to the pruning process, dear friend. Bear more fruit!

Wake Up and Fight!

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
-1 Peter 5:8

The enemy is trying to divide your marriage. I know that is not a positive start for a marriage moment, but it is true. He knows that your marriage is a metaphor for Christ's relationship with the church so he is trying to destroy it. I think you need to be reminded of his plan because we have a tendency to become passive. Many times, if there isn't some big problem to solve, we don't put a lot of effort into our marriage. We just assume everything is okay. We become content and begin to operate on autopilot as if we don't have to exert effort in our marriages. Let me remind you that we can't afford to be inactive. Our adversary is seeking an opportunity to devour what God has built. Perhaps, he will try to use a seductive coworker who is willing to be a listening ear. Maybe he will use issues with disciplining your children or handling finances. He could interrupt your communication. Maybe he will use your willingness (and sometimes over-commitment) to serve in an organization or even church to cause distance between you and your spouse. No matter the tactic, his plan is the same -- the destruction of your marriage. If he can get us at odds with our spouses, sometimes over the smallest thing, his plan is set in motion. Yet, I believe the devil is defeated. I believe that his plans of destruction will not work. Why? Because you are going to be vigilant. Vigilant means keenly watchful to detect danger; ever awake and alert. You, Covenant Keeper, are on guard. You are aware. I believe that God will expose the holes that the enemy might try to creep through, and you will begin to battle in prayer. Today, I believe that you will take back any ground that the enemy might have gained. I declare today that we will not be lazy, passive, or ineffective. We will be like soldiers standing watch over our husbands or wives, our children, and our relationships. We will bind the enemy and every deceitful work that he has started. We will start with an honest look at ourselves asking God to help us to be the husband or wife that He called us to be. Then we will declare God's word and His will over our marriages. I encourage you to fight! Fight with the word of God! Fight in the spirit! Don't fight your spouse. Fight the enemy! Declare that he is a liar, and the father of lies. Declare that he can't have your marriage. He can't have your family. He can't have anything that belongs to you. Know that I am praying with you:

God cover these marriages! Cover your people! Examine us, oh Lord, and lead us in your truth! Show us where we have fallen short of your glory. Show us where we have not been the husbands/wives that you have called us to be. We repent, oh God, and turn back to you. We prioritize you God, and we prioritize our family! Forgive us for not being in order! Show us how to fight. Show us specific scriptures to pray. Help us to identify the real issue. Give us the strength to fight. Help us to love our spouses like you love the church. Remind us of how we felt when we first fell in love with them. Bind the hand of the enemy, oh God. Let his plans come to nought. We praise you for whole marriages, God! We thank you that the enemy's plan failed! We thank you that our marriages flourish! In Jesus' name!

His Grace Really is Sufficient!

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
-2 Corinthians 12:9

God is enough! I know that sounds really spiritual and "churchy", but He really is. He is enough in your marriage. He is enough in your relationships. He is enough in your finances. I know it to be true. John and I have experienced some real obstacles this year. We have truly had to trust and rely on God every month of this year. There have been several times when I did not know what to do. There were times when I tried to figure things out on my own. There were times when I nagged John or wanted him to be the answer. There were times when I wanted to lay in the bed and cry. Yet, God saw me through every one of those times. He sent people and orchestrated situations to bless our family. He constantly reminded me of His promises. He continually showed me that He was a keeper. He is even now walking me through the process of leaning totally on Him and not my understanding. He is instructing me to be quiet when I want to talk. He is telling me to pray instead of complain. He is saying trust instead of doubt. Maybe your life has encountered some challenges this year. Maybe you are facing a challenge now. It can be financial, spiritual, emotional, or physical. Whatever the challenge please know that God is enough. He doesn't need your help to bless you. That was my problem. I wanted God to bless my attempts to fix the problem. I wanted Him to make people do what I thought they should do, but God clearly reminded me that He is God. He can turn water into wine. He can provide a lamb when you are preparing to sacrifice your most prized possession. He can walk over what was meant to drown you. God can bless you without your interference. We just have to trust Him like we say (and sing) that we do. John and I have seen God take care of our every need. Like He sent manna to the children of Israel, He sent provision to us. He covered and kept us. He opened doors that we didn't even know were there. Don't you know that He is trying to do the same in your life? Is there an issue that seems big in your life? I assure you that God is bigger! Is there a problem that seems impossible? I promise you that all things are possible with Him! Is there something that seems out of control? He is sovereign and every knee will bow to Him! Please, dear Covenant Keeper, trust Him to take care of you! Take your hands completely off of the situation. Begin to trust Him even when your situation doesn't seem to be in alignment with what He said. Trust Him to work all things out for your good. Then rest in His grace. Rest in His love. Rest knowing that He loves you, and He cares. Rest in Him! Commit that you are not going to nag your spouse. Commit that you are not going to complain. Commit to bringing every care and concern to the Father. Then watch Him work! His grace will keep you in this time! It is more than enough!

Time for a Tune Up

Proverbs 27:23
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds...

Everything that has been built for longevity requires maintenance: your home, your body, even your appliances. They need regular service to make sure that they are functioning properly. This maximizes the lifetime of an object. As much as I like driving my car, if I never put gas in it or have it serviced it is sure to break down. Our relationships are just like that. Yet, we often forget to take time to maintain them. We think we can just get married and let the marriage run its course. Sadly, many couples have found that this method does not work. Our marriages need maintenance. We need to take the time to make sure that they are working properly. We need to have regular "tune ups". Have we spent time together? Are we both feeling the same way about our union? Are we growing and progressing? We must be intentional about making sure that our marriages are healthy. Sometimes your "check engine" light comes on in your car to make you aware of something that you may have missed or that you have ignored. Are there signs or signals happening in your relationship that indicate that some things need to be checked? You can ignore that light if you would like, but the problem will only get worse. Something that could be as small as cleaning a filter could become something as large as replacing a transmission if we continue to ignore the problem. I encourage us all to take time for a tune up. Check under the hood. Check the fluid levels. Let God's word be the measuring stick for our marriages. I know that they will last so much longer and "ride" so much smoother with frequent and continued maintenance!