GPS to a Joyful Marriage

Romans 12:2-3 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 12 verse 2 was one of the first verses I memorized as a child.  I had no idea what it truly meant.  It wasn’t until after I went through my “desert experience” in my marriage that I understood the meaning. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world.”  Conform means to imitate, follow, adapt.  There was a time in our society, not so long ago, where Christians stood out from the people “of the world”.  That is not the case anymore.   Many churches have relaxed their teachings, delivering a “fe...

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” Our love of the world shows through in our attitude when we face problems.  If we fret and stress and get sidetracked from God’s will for us, we are focusing on our life in the world.  We are loving the world – for better or for worse – by fixating even on our undesirable circumstances.  For example: when we face financial difficulties, if we allow ourselves to be consumed by the issue, we are only showing our desire for worldly happiness.  We want our finances to be healthy so we can live a life with the best the world can offer us.  We love prosperity ...