Revelations From The Road

Insight into God's word, delivered from behind the wheel and from God's Word.

Archives for December 2008

The Seven Most Important Things In Marriage – Part 2

by 3 Comments

Given December 26, 2008

I wrote in Part 1, how God gave me these seven important steps in marriage.  Today, I am posting the remaining steps given and a “bonus” step.  If you haven’t read the first four steps, please follow the “Part 1” link above.

5.  The Marriage Bed   If these steps had been in order of importance, (God didn’t give them to me that way), this one might have been #2.  Human sexuality was created by God and has intended applications, many of which have been hijacked by the world.  “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4.  “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.” 1 Corinthians 7:3,5.  It’s important!

6.  Don’t Go To Bed Mad  Disagreements are going to happen and, left unresolved, will fester and turn into something much worse; the devil will see to it.  Deal with maritial anger before going to sleep.  “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Ephesians 4:26.

7.  Pray Together  Prayer is one of the most important things in a Christians life so that transfers to marriage as well.  Husband and wife should make it a practice to pray together on a regular basis.  “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20.  And, “If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Bonus step –  Do Things Together  God said in Genesis, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18.  God intended for man and wife to be together.  Many times in marriage, man and wife grow apart and the devil will throw anything in the mix to enhance that.  Strive to do things together on a regular basis.

Well, those are the Seven Most Important Things In Marriage as God gave them to me.  I’m sure He was talking to me and my wonderful wife specifically but I suspect these “things” may be useful to you in your marriage.  And, if you’re not married, file this away for when God reveals your life-long mate to you.  Be blessed!

The Seven Most Important Things In Marriage

by 2 Comments

Given December 26, 2008It was the strangest thing.  Most mornings, I wake up with a song in my mind; mostly contemporary Christian which I listen to often, but sometimes a song from my teenage years.  But this morning, when I awoke, this phrase was in my mind: “the seven most important things in marriage”.  It surprised me, then within a few seconds, the “things” began coming to my mind.  I rolled over, got my pen and pad and wrote the first four down.  A couple of minutes later, the next three came, then, after I thought it was done, an eighth item came.  What’s up with that?  More on that later.So, here are the first four of the Seven Most Important Things in Marriage:

1.         Love God.  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37.  This is the most important thing in marriage or anything in life.  I heard it said that as man and wife, who may be somewhat apart, draw closer to God, they draw closer to one another.

2.         Love the other person.  After putting God first, man and wife should always try to put each other first.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. “Philippians 2: 3-4.

3.         The man is the head of the relationship.  This does not mean the man is the boss or the dictator, but he should be the head.  “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.“Ephesians 5: 22-24.

4.         Money.  According to many sources, financial disagreement is the leading cause of divorce.  God says the love of money is the root of all evil, (1 Timothy 6:10).  Love or focus on money instead of on God is a major problem.  God will meet our every need, (Philippians 4:19) and, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

I will give the other three most important things in marriage in Part 2 of this posting.

Be Ready

by Leave a Comment

Given December 23, 2008DC Talk sings, “I wish we’d all been ready.”, referring to the state of humanity at the second coming of Jesus.  Of course we all need to be ready; to give our heart to Jesus and live our lives for Him.  Being ready, I think, means more than a one-time thing.  We must strive to be prepared every day so as not to miss an opportunity, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15.  Remember the disciples who couldn’t cast the demon out of the boy?  (Matthew 17) Jesus told them that kind only came out by prayer and fasting; you had to be prayed up and prepared.  The disciples obviously wern’t.  We not only need to be ready for the second coming but be ready each day for what God may have planned for us.Think of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Do you think she was ready?  You know, she wasn’t praying for God to send the messiah to earth through her.   But God knew who she was.  “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.  Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” Luke 1: 28,30. Whatever Mary had been doing had gained the favor of God; she was ready!We don’t know what God has planned for each of us, but there’s something.  How sad it would be if God scours the earth for someone to do something for Him and He looks at us and says, “No, we can’t use them this time; they’re not ready.”  I encourage you, as we celebrate the first coming of Christ, to be ready for His second coming AND the time in between.  Be blessed!

God’s To-Do List

by Leave a Comment

Given August 2, 2007

Has God ever told you to do anything?  You know, when you get that “feeling” you need to speak to or apologize to someone or the preacher’s sermon convicts you to do something.  I have actually written some of my things down so I’ll be reminded every day.  The Holy Spirit reminds me as well.

On this day, God gave me a revelation of just how important this is for me.  During morning prayer, I was asking God for something, I think, like for more influence or power in an area of service.  I was wanting a promotion to another level of Spiritual effectiveness.  The Spirit responded with something like, “What about the things I’ve asked you to do?”  It brought to my mind when a teenager asks his dad to borrow the car and dad says, “Have you cleaned your room yet?  Have you taken out the trash?  Do those things first, then you can have the car.”  I think it’s the same with me and you and God.

God has a plan for each of us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.  And, His plan involves some obedience and action on our part.  I don’t think God will fully do what He’s got planned for us until we do what He’s asked us to do.  What has God asked you to do?  What things do you know in your heart you should be doing?

Maybe we’re satisfied with where we are in life.  Maybe we don’t want a promotion in the Kingdom.  But if we do, God wants to use us; to move us up in His Kingdom.  But it’s like training for a desired position.  We are tested at every level and must pass the test to move up.  There are things we must do in order to be promoted.  “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22.  Yes, we may have our to-do list but it’s not too important compared with God’s.  His list for us comes with guarantees too.  If God asks us to do something, He will give us what we need to be successful.  “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.  So, what has God asked you to do?  Go for it!

Use The Time

by Leave a Comment

Given November 23, 2008

We all seem to be pressed for time.  Rushing here and there thinking what we “have” to do is so important.  And when we’re in a hurry, doesn’t it seem like society is out to get us?  It’s almost like a conspiracy; the light changes just before you get there, people slowly turning in front of you, the checkout line you’re in doesn’t seem to be moving, “Your call is really important to us…”.  Sound familiar?  And, how does all this make you feel when you’re in a hurry?  Can you say, “Repent”?  Yeah, me too.

But…I’ve found the solution!  This blog is all about revelations God has given me.  He shows me interesting ways of seeing things but, this time, He used my lovely wife to give me the revelation.  When I was griping about having to “waste” time at the traffic light, she told me when that happens to her, she uses the time to pray.  Wow, what a good idea!  That 60-90 seconds can be put to good use.  It’s not wasted time.

It’s amazing!  Since that day, every time the light changes, I feel the aggravation coming on…then…I remember what God said through my wife.  Use this time to pray.  You know, I even found myself today hoping the light would change!  Then, found myself smiling because the devil’s plan was thwarted again!  “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.“ Hebrews 3:13.  All we have is today.  Sin is trying to steal our time and distract us from things that are really important.  We all have 24 hours each day.  Use your time, even minutes you used to think were wasted.  Trust me, now, red-light time for me is not wasted!

Thanks for reading

...

Recent Posts

Tags

authority battle believe body of Christ Christmas darkness defeat devil doers dominion faith fear fruit Giving God's plan God's Word good news healing Heaven help Holy Spirit Jesus light love obedience power praise prayer promises protection provision sacrifice salvation service sin success temptation tested training trouble trust truth victory witness worry