Putting God First: Power

It is not just direction that we need, though; we also need strength and power to do what is right.  You do not have to be married long before you realize that you need help – and sometimes lots of it! – to be loving, patient, kind, and just godly in general with your spouse.  God has granted us this power in the person of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible says that everyone who is a believer is “sealed” with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and that the Spirit enables us to live as God wants us to:  “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.…  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).  This again requires a decision on our part to look first and foremost to God, asking Him for the strength of His Holy Spirit so that our lives will show forth the fruit of the Spirit.

If you are serious about laying the right foundation for your role as a spouse, please take time to pray over the following questions:

1. Have you made a decision in your life to put God first and to trust completely in His Son, the Lord Jesus, to cleanse you from your sins?

2. Would those who know you best say that you can be described as a person whose first priority in life is to love God and to follow His ways?

3. Be encouraged: God desires to help you live a life that is pleasing to Him by the strength of His Spirit!  Are there specific areas that you can identify where you are especially aware of the need for God’s strength and power?  Will you bring these areas before Him and ask for His power to change?

© 2003 Christian Family Life

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