Yoked Up

I spent the last four days in California with a group of amazing, Godly women.  It made me realize that I need to spend more time with other women of faith.  What an inspiring and uplifting time I had!

Ladies, we need girlfriend time.  Not just with any woman, but a positive, God-loving, build-you- up kind of person. We need them to encourage us, to listen to us, to realize we are not the only ones facing trials in this life, and to see that we are not alone in our sometimes difficult journey to achieve a healthy marriage.  No matter how much we love our husbands and how kind and wonderful they might be, there is still a part of women that can only be fed by the similar thinking of other females.  Men don’t seem to have a need quite like this and struggle in trying to fill that need for us.  Football, baseball, remote controls and dinner seem to be the extent of their emotional needs (oh, and of course, sex.)

[As usual, there are always exceptions to this rule.]

2 Corinthians 6:14, 15 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God”

There is a reason Paul urges us to be yoked together with believers.  We need our believing friends to help us stay focused – to stay on the right path – to keep us accountable.  Even more, sharing in the same beliefs and faith in God generates a spiritual bond not found in relationships with unbelievers.  I met some Christian women during my trip to California that I instantly felt a kinship with and a great ease - like we'd always known each other.  I have relatives that I’ve never felt that close to.

There is power in sharing the same mission in life and in desiring to live a life according to God’s plan.  It’s invigorating to be around these kinds of women.  I feel as though I attended a spiritual retreat while in California even though I was there as a speaker for an event.   The passion of these women to reach out to other women was contagious and compelling.  I couldn’t help but to be touched and filled with God’s amazing love.

And so I ask the million dollar question – what if you aren’t equally yoked with your spouse?  Many of us married when we were young and not interested in a relationship with God.  Some may have married for the wrong reasons. 

I Peter 3:1-2 says, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husband’s so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.”

If your spouse is not riding the same spiritual wave that you are, the best thing you can do is to pray for them and be an example as the verses above tell you.  It’s not going to be easy, but the rewards of sharing a life with a believing spouse will far outweigh the struggles that may have incurred to get there.  Two joined together in prayer is a powerful asset to any marriage.

Philippians 4:8-9 tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”

When you apply these verses to your marriage relationships and your close female relationships, you will bask in the peace and contentment that only God can give us.