One of the most beautiful things in life is to keep a soft heart—
A soft heart toward God.
A soft heart in responding to God’s word.
A soft heart to people who speak against us.
A soft and tender heart toward our husbands.
Jesus said in Matthew 19:8 that “hardness of heart” leads to divorce. Those are very strong words, but everything begins with our heart attitude.
The only way we can keep a soft attitude is by the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Our fleshly nature gets offended, hurt, bitter, and then hard. We must guard against these evils.
Instead, we must yield to the Holy Spirit to flood our hearts with His forgiveness and love. But what do you do when your love flies out the window and there is none left? You still have God’s love—His agape love that loves in the face of opposition and hatred.
Romans 5:5 says: “The love of God is shed abroad (poured into) our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Offense leads to bitterness, bitterness leads to hardness, and hardness leads to divorce.
Stop the downward path to destruction now. Dear lovely wife, if you are offended by your husband, get on your knees before the Lord. Forgive—there is no other option. Unforgiveness not only hurts your husband, but you, and your family—but mostly YOU.
Every time your husband sends another arrow into your soul, retaliate with a blessing. That’s God’s way. Of course, it is the opposite to our way. But our way doesn’t work; God’s way does.
1 Peter 38 (NLT): ‘Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, PAY THEM BACK WITH A BLESSING. This is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.”
The Knox translation says: “Not repaying . . . hard words with hard words, but blessing those who curse you,”
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
Love to you today,
Nancy Campbell
Painting: Brian Kershisnik