HOW DOES GOD SEE MARRIAGE?
Part 1: A Hard Heart is Dangerous

“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 an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them”
(Ezekiel 36:27, 28).

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, or anyone else who has hurt you, get on your knees before the Lord. Forgive—there is no other option. Unforgiveness not only hurts the other person, 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 3:8 (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,”

And here is one more from The New English Bible: “Do not repay wrong with wrong, or abuse with abuse; on the contrary, retaliate with blessing.”

And while you are on your knees, don’t forget to open God’s Word. It always set us straight. I love Psalm 119:165: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

PRAYER:

“Dear Holy Spirit, thank You that You live in my heart, shedding abroad God’s love and forgiveness throughout my being. Please move mightily in my heart to fill me to overflowing with love and sweetness. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am resisting all hardness of heart and embracing the soft, sweet anointing of the Holy Spirit in my life.