February 10, 2004

Encouragement for Today

 

Commitment

Ramona Davis

 

Key Verse:

 

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3,4 (NKJV)

 

Devotion:

 

A young married couple is separating and my heart is crushed. The young man in this marriage is part of my family. He and my son have been best friends since they shared a 3 year old pre-school classroom.

 

I remember when this couple began dating. They were so in love. We were all thrilled because she absolutely adored him. We were sure he had found “Miss Right” since he had never really been serious about anyone until she came along. After many months of dating, he proposed to her. We thought she would float right up into the clouds when he gave her a ring and asked her on bended knee to marry him.  “Yes!”, “Yes!”, “Yes!” she exclaimed.

 

Plans were made, showers were given, and a home was bought. The wedding date came, bells rang and commitments were made. We all smiled with tears of joy in our eyes as they said, “I do!”

 

Now after 1 year and 2 months, she has decided that she wants to end the marriage. She explains that she no longer “feels” the excitement and butterflies she had when they first wed.

 

The enemy has lied to this young woman and countless others. He has convinced her to live her life according to how she “feels”. He even lies to her about those feelings. She believes that since she no longer “feels” the excitement and butterflies, her love must be dying. She has believed the lie that her “feelings” are more important than the marriage vows she made to her husband and to God. Sadly, she is throwing away many joyous blessings and the security that comes with commitment.

 

When we receive Christ we may “feel” excitement and butterflies. Many Christians give up on the strong commitments they first made to God when they no longer “feel” the excitement of the new relationship. We cannot grow in our relationship with Christ if we fail to read His Word and pray on a regular basis because our “feelings” and the enemy’s lies soon begin to outweigh the Truth. The fiery passion that once burned in our hearts becomes a distant memory, leaving only cold embers of complacency as a grave marker. We must feed regularly on the Truth of His Word and spend time in prayer in order for our relationship with Him and others to grow. Commitment to God and to our marriages can transform those first feelings of excitement into a rock-solid relationship that will last.

 

 

My prayer for today:

 

Jesus, we are a generation of people who do not honor the commitments we make. Teach us through the power of your Word and time spent in prayer how to keep our commitments no matter how we “feel”. Forgive us for not looking to You to help us keep the commitments we make. Thank you for the abundant blessings of keeping our commitments.  Amen.

 

 

Application steps:

 

Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal any area in your relationship with Him or your husband where you are relying on your “feelings” rather than the Truth.

 

 

Reflection points:

 

What am I doing to honor the commitment I made to God at the time of my salvation?

 

What do I need to change in order to improve the commitment I made to Him?

 

In what ways do I honor the commitment I made to my husband on our wedding day? 

 

What other commitments have I made that I am not keeping?

 

 

Power verses:

 

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 (NIV)

 

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. 2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)

 

Show me your ways; O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4, 5 (NIV)

 

 

Additional resources:

 

Making Marriage Work by Mary Southerland

http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/marriageworkset.html

 

Capture His Heart by Lysa TerKeurst

http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/capturehis.html

 

P31 Woman Magazine

http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/p31woman.html