Sharing this devotion that Bill gave recently at a staff meeting. Great reminder of the importance of  guarding our marriages.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Marriage from Satan’s Attacks

• “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring out the best of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor – since they’re already “one” in marriage.” Ephesians 5:25-28
• Married couples in today’s society face incredible challenges.
• Too many of us make our careers more important than our relationship with our spouse.
• Satan enters as a thief.
• Doesn’t announce his arrival
• Comes at our most vulnerable times
• Disguises himself
• Uses clever con jobs, attractive packages, and half-truths to appeal to our flesh
• Gets us to believe the opposite of God’s truth.
• Why is there such a vicious attack on our relationship with our spouse?
• Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 5
• Marriage is a picture of Christ & the Church
• If Satan can destroy this image, the world will not see the fullness of God’s glory in the domestic realm or in the spiritual realm.
• What can we do to defeat Satan and protect our relationship with our spouse?
• As we begin a new year of ministry, let’s make sure that we have in place safeguards to protect our relationship with our spouse:
• Admit the potential. None of us are immune to the possibility.
• Read & live by Colossians 3 – describes how you can protect your marriage
• Recognize & be honest about the warning signs
• Examine emotional attachments, friendships with opposite sex, thought life, etc.
• Never share personal problems with a member of the opposite sex
• Remember the consequences!
• Practice preventive maintenance.
• Recognize and acknowledge your wife’s importance in your life and career.
• Never travel or have lunch alone with a member of the opposite sex
• Never compare your spouse to another person, either mentally or verbally.
• Continually praise her and accept her for who she is
• Make a monthly checklist of your priorities & discuss with your spouse.
• When priorities are out of order, disorder soon follows in other areas
• Be accountable to someone who will ask you the hard questions.
• Put in place safeguards on your home computer & work computer.
•     Pornography is rendering Christians spiritually impotent.
• Schedule and protect a weekly date with your spouse.
• Keep pictures of your spouse in your office.
• On a regular basis, count your blessings.

Resources:

·         “How To Avoid Adultery”, article written by Karin & Glenn Brown for Faith Christian Fellowship International.