Principle of Sowing and Reaping Can Turn Hurting Marriages Around

Dr. David B. Hawkins

Editor's Note: Do you need sound, Biblically-based advice on an issue in your marriage or family?  Dr. David will address two questions from Crosswalk readers in each weekly column. Submit your question to him at TheRelationshipDoctor@gmail.com.

Dear Dr. David,

I am a twenty-seven year old husband from a seven year marriage. In the first year of our marriage together, my wife and I fought like cats and dogs. I was constantly going out with my friends and taking advantage of my wife, her time together, her wants and needs. I was not a very good husband.  It has taken me years of arguing and resentment to realize that I haven’t let go of her past wrongs that happened before I knew her and after we were married. Now I understand that at least for the things that have happened since we were married, I was a lot to blame, if not completely. I have a really hard time trying not to bring up her past when we argue about intimacy or respect for one another. 

Trust His Heart

Written by Donna Mitchell

Take today’s next step: Share today’s devo on Facebook and Twitter.

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:  ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:20-22)

A few years ago, I attended the funeral of a young woman.  During the service, they showed a video of her singing a Babbie Mason song called, “Trust His Heart.” The song expressed these words:

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

Show Gratitude ... in Everything

 

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 5:18

The anointing is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables me to do things with ease. It could be greater insight, greater energy, greater joy, or greater blessing of any proportion; and I want a greater anointing. One of the quickest routes to a greater anointing is to show gratitude to God—in everything.

Thanking God for everything and thanking Him in everything are not exactly the same thing. Not many people thank Him for everything. We may end up doing that—when enough time rolls along that "all things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28, KJV). Then we may thank Him for things that were once evil and caused grief. But I do not counsel that we must thank Him for everything at any given moment.

Facing Marah?

"Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore, it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" Exodus 15:22-24

Bitter things. No one likes bitter things. But bitter things are part of life. Life is not all honey and no bees. Roses do have thorns ... and all people face "bitter waters" from one degree or another.

The Marah story in Exodus 15 is especially significant. You see, in Exodus 14, God's people had just seen and personally experienced the greatest Old Testament miracle: the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh and his armies. The people take the first 21 verses of chapter 15 to rejoice and dance and sing over the great power of God. Life is good, and God is awesome! Hallelujah!

All Things

Written by Barbara Alpert

Are you confused and not sure what to do or where to turn? Let us pray for you.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28-29)

My husband enjoys Saturday mornings because I usually make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. He has no clue what the required ingredients are but he knows it will taste good when it’s done. The ingredients by themselves would not be appealing to have for a special morning breakfast. Chances are he would gag while eating the dry mix and frown trying to gulp down oil and raw eggs. The only enjoyable thing would be the chocolate morsels, but he’d get sick if he ate a plate of them. However, when all the ingredients are mixed together and cooked they form a delicious stack of chocolate chip pancakes.

What's in Your Basket?

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Do you like cooking shows? My family and I like to watch the cooking show CHOPPED. In that show, several top-notch chefs are given a basket of ingredients with which to hopefully make a savory dish. The challenge is in the ingredients; there is always an item or two that no chef in his right mind would choose. How does anyone make a five-star dessert with gummy worms ... or grits ... or baby beets? (I hate beets.)

Amazingly, the master chefs are able to take all the odd-ball ingredients in each course basket (appetizer, entree, and dessert) and work them together to make a great-tasting meal.

GOD IS THE MASTER CHEF

When it comes to life, God is the Master Chef. He is the One who is able to take all the difficult experiences and bad-tasting ingredients that befall us in life and work them together for good. He is the God who is able to give beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

I talked to a friend this week who is facing some very tough circumstances. Complications from a routine cataract surgery ended up costing him his right eye. And if that weren't enough to deal with, he is fighting prostate cancer that has spread. Without question, he has found some bad ingredients in his basket. 

all things work together for good

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

If you don't believe that God makes all things work together for His children, then just watch the top video below. 

It's one of many examples of God having a much bigger plan for us than we can even see. 

Have a nice day and God bless.

Dog Thrown Away in a Dumpster Saves a Little Girl from Death - Watch the Amazing Video! This video is very touching because not only does its how how precious a dog can be given the chance, but it also shows how God works in ways that we don't even realize. This little girl's dog, which was originally found in a garbage can, ended up saving her life. Amazing. http://www.godvine.com/Thrown-Away-Dog-Saves-a-Little-Girl-from-Death-671.html

GodVine.com

Getting Through Hard Times

by Joyce Meyer

Are you going through a hard time? Maybe you recently lost your job, or you're dealing with a death in your family. Or maybe you're just not sure anything good in life can happen to you. Whatever you're dealing with, I want you to know that you're not alone and something good can come from the tough spot you're in right now. God promised.

Jesus experienced hard times too…the road to the cross was no small matter. But He had to decide to go through it. He even asked God if it was really necessary. (But we know how this amazing love story ended.) 

Just like Jesus had to make a choice, you and I also have to decide to go through hard times.

Is Good Friday Really Good?

As we celebrate His resurrection, I like to look at how we go through our own hard times. I think we also go through our own private crucifixion and resurrection on a somewhat regular basis. Often I say "Friday always comes before Sunday." 

Ever wonder why we refer to the day of Jesus' death as "Good" Friday, since it's a day that involved so much pain, agony and heartache? Well, it's because the result of this particular Friday—Christ's resurrection from the dead on Sunday—was good. 

Inspired by Joy

Written by Gail Rodgers

Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce?  We want to pray for you.  Please tell us how we can pray.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  (James 1:2-4)

A few years ago he lost all he had. Everything. But he found Jesus. He inspires me every time I talk with him. He has embraced God’s word and one of the verses he lives by is this one quoted above from James 1:2-4,