The Reason For Christian Breakups
Some of you are in a relationship with the person that God wants you to marry and you will eventually marry. Sometimes Christians get into relationships with Christians and it just doesnt work out. I know it hurts, but God uses this situation to work in a believers life to conform them into the image of His Son and build their faith. God will replace the person He has taken away with someone better. Trust in Him.
27. Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
28. Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
We Have A Responsibility Not To Make Others Stumble
As Christians, we also have the responsibility not to do something if it makes another believer stumble.
If you and your boyfriend have strong physical boundaries in place and are not sleeping together, you may be tempted to live together since you are avoiding sexual sin.
But lets say a new Christian couple at church looks up to you, and they notice that you live together without being married.
What kind of message is this saying to the new Christian couple?
They may think that its okay for Christians to live together before marriage, and they may end up stumbling into sexual sin once they move in together and fail to resist temptation.
We see this concept illustrated in Romans 14 below.
Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.
You may believe theres nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who dont feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.
But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. Romans 14:20-25 NLT
So even if you and your boyfriend are able to live together without sleeping together, you could still be causing other believers to stumble.
Your Relationship With God Affects All Aspects Of Your Life
There is no doubt that the state of your relationship with God directly affects every single aspect of your life. Friendships, work, and family all benefit when your spiritual life is intact. Those same relationships suffer when your relationship with God is rocky.
One of my closest friends had the type of marriage that seemed so perfect that people would constantly comment on it. Theyre two faithful Catholics who spent their evenings and weekends volunteering as Core Members with their Churchs youth group. Any free time they had together was spent conquering adventures.
When they had children, things appeared great from the outside. But behind closed doors, the marriage was falling apart.
My friend was suffering from terrible postpartum depression. She lost her faith and abandoned her relationship with God. The effects of her loss of faith were so dramatic that they almost let to the end of the marriage.
Thankfully the situation improved and she was able to find her way back to God and to her husband. However, it was a very dark and scary time for them when that constant, Jesus, was no longer linking them emotionally or spiritually.
One thing that could have helped them in this time of struggle was encouraging Bible verses, reminding them that they were never alone.
God is our constant. When our relationship with him is right, our relationships with others flourish.
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The Marriage Union Is Personal
Now, if bodily unity were the most significant aspect of marriage, then certainly we would not have much reason to consider marriage important. So much of what our culture gets wrong about sex and marriage comes from this point: physical intimacy involves the whole person. It is intimately personal. Sex is the means of procreation, but procreation is not essential to the physical union rather, it is a result. The marriage union brings a person into intimate connection with another person in a way that nothing else can. Most modern cultures want us to believe that sex is merely a physical act, but Scripture teaches otherwise.
This union is a loving communion of equal and distinct persons. When the two become one, it is more than a physical connection. It involves a connection on the personal level, where the two persons commune in a way that is unique to that relationship. Sex is a means of connection, but the whole of the marriage relationship involves this personal connection. The physical union is merely one level of contact. As we already mentioned, marriage involves the whole person: physical, emotional, spiritual, and so on. The goal of the biblical marriage is for the two to become one as they connect and commune with each other at each of these connecting points.
So, marriage is physical because we are physical beings, and it is personal because we are personal beings, but we also see that marriage is inherently relational.
What Roles And Responsibilities Does The Bible Assign To Husbands And Wives
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Husbands and wives should treat each other with love and respect. They should care for each others sexual needs in a loving way and avoid all forms of unfaithfulness. If they have children, husbands and wives share the responsibility of raising them.Proverbs 6:20.
The Bible does not discuss in detail how married couples should share secular work and household chores. They can decide together what will work best for their family.
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A husbands role. The Bible says that a husband is head of his wife. He is the head in the sense that he should guide his family and make decisions that will benefit his wife and children.
He should strive to ensure that their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are cared for. He shows that he values his wifes qualities and capabilities by working closely with her and by carefully considering her opinion and feelings when making decisions. The Bible says that a husband ought to care for his responsibilities in a loving way.Colossians 3:19.
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A wifes role. The Bible says that a wife should have deep respect for her husband. God is pleased when a wife respects the role that he assigned to her husband.
Her role is to assist her husband, helping him to make good decisions and supporting his headship. The Bible speaks highly of a wife who fulfills her important role in marriage.Proverbs 31:10.
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The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work
I would highly recommend you read the book, The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work by John Gottman, PhD.
With more than a million copies sold worldwide, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work has revolutionized the way people understand, repair, and strengthen marriages.
John Gottmans unprecedented study of couples over a period of years has allowed him to observe the habits that can makeand breaka marriage. Here is the culmination of that work: the seven principles that guide couples on a path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. Straightforward yet profound, these principles teach partners new approaches for resolving conflicts, creating new common ground, and achieving greater levels of intimacy.
Gottman offers strategies and resources to help couples collaborate more effectively to resolve any problem, whether dealing with issues related to sex, money, religion, work, family, or anything else.
Packed with new exercises and the latest research out of the esteemed Gottman Institute, this revised edition of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.
How To Calm A Fight + Bible Verses For A Happy Marriage
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.
Arguing with your spouse can lead to hurt feelings and resentment if you dont work on communication and learn to listen well. When tempers flare, its important to share how you feel without belittling the other person. Today Im sharing 15 things to say to calm a fight down.
Did you know it takes two people to have an argument? When your husband says something that irritates you, how do you react? Do you stop and take a deep breath before letting words fly out of your mouth? Or do you spit out the first thought that enters your brain?
Remember: Arguments are not started by the first person to speak. They are started by the second. The words we say can never be unsaid. Choose your words carefully.
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25: 11
Have you ever been in a fight with your spouse that you knew was going absolutely nowhere? Have you ever been in a fight that you wanted to end, but couldnt figure out how to stop it?
How a couple ends a fight says a lot about the quality and stability of their relationship. Dr. John Gottman is one of the foremost researchers on marriage. He calls these fight ending techniques Repair Attempts and says the way they are delivered and whether or not they are received well can predict the longevity of the relationship.
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Consider The Following Steps If You Are Already Living With Your Boyfriend Or Fianc Before Marriage:
Who Should You Date
The basis of whom to date at times can seem arbitrary, but in truth is foundational within the character of the person. A mans character is seen through his actions and words. Proverbs 10:9 shares, Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. The truth comes out, even if it has attempted to be hidden. Ephesians 5:1 shares, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. This most accurately means living in such a way that the fruit of ones life is glorifying to the Lord and boasting in God alone. Proverbs 31 most famously remarks upon the attributes of a Godly wife, sharing in part, When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. The fruit of thoughts are words of the mouth, and the fruit of the heart are actions in life. A man or woman of integrity is not only to be praised but to be prayed for and sought after for a potential spouse.
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Scriptures On Relationships: What Does The Bible Say About Friendship
Our lives are made up of a web of relationships with colleagues at work, at home with parents, siblings and children, with our neighbors, and so much more. One important type of relationship, which can take different shapes and develop around a variety of interests, is friendship.
Friendships range from the casual acquaintance or former classmate you bump into or friend on social media, to the kinds of friendships where you would entrust your life and the lives of your loved ones into their hands.
Some friends are the people we rely on we cry, laugh, sing, pray, and do life with and they can do the same with us. To find and have a good friend is something priceless.
Why Marriage Matters For Everyday Life
Christian believers ought to care passionately about marriage because God is our Creator and has given us marriage as a non-negotiable good gift in Creation. It is the basic building block of the family, which is itself the foundation of all social order. When marriage is honored in a society, the powerful sexual urges we experience are channeled into serving God as we build stable relationships within which children are born and nurtured. Children need this stability. When marriage is dishonored, sexual chaos leaves casualties strewn all over our societies, from abused women to miserable children and disillusioned men. While God, in his kindness and common grace, can and does help children who are not nurtured in this context and adults who become victims of sexual abuse, it is Gods purpose that marriage shall be his kind bulwark and protection against the abuse of the weak.
Offering us a God-centered view of marriage, this book will help men and women experience the joy and fulfillment that result when a husband and wife focus on loving and serving God first and foremost.
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Johnathan Yarrow Is A Successful Defense Attorney Until He Takes On A Personal Case He Cannot Win Ruined By The Loss And Haunted By His Past Yarrow A Man Who Desired To See The Good In All People Starts To Learn That Not Everyone Can Be Good Not Even Himself
There are heaps of different jobs you could be doing to earn extra cash while youre in college. However, youll probably want to give some thought to how each of your prospective job opportunities might impress prospective employers when you launch your actual career after graduation. The following jobs are ones youre probably qualified to do, and theyre likely to be more impressive additions to your resume than the usual Mcjob options would be:
What Does The Bible Say About Relationships
What does the Bible say about relationships? We all have themwith friends, spouses, parents, children, and more. Some flow easily and bring much joy. Others not so much. What, then, should we do?
The Bible provides guidance on interaction between men and women, mankind and our Savior, and relationships between believers. Knowing these truths helps us make better decisions and navigate in a righteous manner.
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What Does The Bible Say About Relationships Especially With Jesus
If a passerby came up to you and asked, Who is Jesus? How would you answer them? And what does the Bible say about relationships, especially one with Jesus? Is He simply a man or a prophet? Maybe Hes someone we know about, and thats all. The Bible assures us that He is the Son of God and the hope for salvation.
He rights those wrong decisions weve madethe ones threaded with sin. This vital relationship stands as the foundational rock of the Christians life.
What Does The Bible Say About Relationships Is One More Important Than Another
The Bible is a book of relationships. It shows us what our relationship to God is meant to be and how we can have that kind of relationship. It shows us how we should interact and treat our fellow Christians. It shows us how we are to view those who do not believe. Because we can see and touch the physical world around us, many times it seems more real than the spiritual world in which we connect and communicate with God. This means that sometimes we let our earthly relationships become more important than our relationship with God. What does the Bible say about relationships?
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It Allows The Lord To Guide Your Actions
Relationships require a lot of work. Whether newly dating or nearing marriage, partners constantly have to make decisions that will drive forward the future of the relationship.
Are you making decisions based off of your own desires? Or are you allowing God to guide you, by being spiritually in tune with his will?
Blessed Are The Poor: A Different Biblical Answer To The Same Question
Others answer the question by using one of the candidates from the following list : Luke 6:20 1 Timothy 6:10 James 2:5 and Revelation 2:8-10.
Whichever particular passage they use for their answer, they develop a different biblical view regarding this whole topica view that could be summarized as follows:
The Bible teaches that God will allow His people to be poor, and that having abundant physical wealth is a spiritually dangerous, troublesome and onerous thing for the righteous and is contrary to Gods will.
And they, too, sure seem to have scriptural support for their conclusion. Just read the verses listed above. These people are convinced that God intends for the righteous to be poor in this lifetime. Its best for them. Having money and riches will ruin them.
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Husband And Wife Relationships
Genesis 2:1825Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone I will make him a helper fit for him.” … So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Proverbs 31:1011Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
Matthew 19:5…and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ …
Ephesians 5:2333For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her … In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself … and let the wife see that she respects her husband.