Go to Church, but Live in Christ; Build a Strong Marriage by Placing God at the Center

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The word of God makes it clear that Believers must be hearers and doers of God’s word. This is different from “playing church” where we put on our Sunday best, stand and sit when prompted, sing with the choir, and put a few dollars in the collection plate. True Believers who are rooted in Christ Jesus hear and apply God’s Word. Of course, this is important for everyone. But when we consider the mandate on a marriage, the stakes are higher.  A marriage built on the sand instead of on the solid rock of Jesus Christ affects the entire family not just one person.

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Someone In Your Marriage Business? How NOT to Worry About the Others’ Opinions

A sister wrote to me the other day explaining that a woman in her church and even some of her family members criticize her for not being a good wife. Her husband doesn’t complain, so she doesn’t see what the problem is. She asked, “Why don’t people mind their business?” Here is some of what I shared with her. 

Everybody knows what kind of wife you should be to your husband. They know how much you should cook, what you should say, how you should wear your hair, and even what you should be doing in the bedroom. According to them, your husband deserves better than you.

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Release Your Marriage to the Lord: Let God Fix Whatever’s Broken

I heard you. Even felt your pain. The past two weeks I’ve been flooded with emails about my last article: “Dr. Michelle my marriage is in trouble.” “I don’t know what to do.” “I’m happy for you but things are not looking good for me.” “I’m so lonely.”  Although my husband and I celebrated 16 years of marriage this month, those 16 years haven’t always been blissful. We had some really rough years and even faced a crossroad that landed us in counseling for a year. We had to deal with lies, childhood issues, negative coping mechanisms, and a lack of intimacy. At times I felt really lonely. I didn’t know who I could trust and who would listen without being judgmental. Worst of all, I was embarrassed that I was dealing with marital problems. So, I know firsthand that loneliness and doubt are real. I also know firsthand that God can heal, restore, and rebuild your marriage if you give it to Him and if you give your husband to Him.

The word for today is RELEASE. When you release your marriage and husband to God, you give God the opportunity to establish His will in the situation and to equip your husband to be who He desires for Him to be. This is the spiritual principle that Jesus teaches in Luke 17:33, “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will gain it.” To be a true disciple of Christ, you must be willing to release what you have in order to get what you need. As the song goes, you must “let go and let God have His way.”

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What 16 Years With Him Taught Me: Four Principles to Make Your Marriage Last

 

My husband and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage on Friday, January 6^th. It’s a good feeling, not because we made it this far but because we feel grounded and sure about who we are and why God has called us together in marriage. We’ve had ups and downs like most couples. However, through it all, we stayed together and fought for the promise of holy and happy matrimony.  Today, we subscribe to the philosophy that marriage, according to God, is pretty simple even when it isn’t easy.  By simple we mean there are four principles that keep us focused, and if we work the principles in good times and bad times, we will reap if we faint not (Galatians 6:9). We don’t claim to be experts in these areas, just faithful stewards taking it one day and one year at a time. We pray these four principles help you in your marriage.

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5 Key Lessons I’ve Learned as a Wife: Wisdom Leading to Growth & Joy in Marriage

I love being a wife to my husband. I think I finally have a handle on what is required of me. Through the years, I have made mistakes and have even been a little self-centered. But thank God for grace. The grace to mess up and to try again is truly a blessing. When God gives us more time to “get it right,” we should learn our lessons and apply them like we really are grateful for another chance. In this issue, I want to share with you five life lessons I have learned as a wife. These lessons have transformed my marriage and given me peace, joy, and fulfillment. I pray they bless you and your marriage, too.

Lesson #1: I can’t change my husband.

Both my husband and I had bad habits to break when we married right out of college. I had to work on myself and he had to work on himself. That’s what grownups and mature Believers do, correct? But we were just 21 and 22 years old. So we really weren’t grownups or mature in our faith. That’s why we spent so much time trying to change each other.

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