This weekend, I took my wife to see War Room for her birthday. What an outstanding movie. The message is simple, yet profound in its impact for Christian marriages, and other relationships for that matter. "Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." (Ephesians 6:12)
So often couples find themselves fighting each other, believing the worst, and unwilling to trust God to do His part in the three-stranded relationship of marriage. Our spouses are not our enemies. But, that doesn't mean there isn't one. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) A biblical marriage is the picture God chooses to represent the relationship of Christ to the Church. So, you better believe the enemy will do all they can to devour marriages.
As believers, we are called to "resist the devil, and he will flee." (James 4:7) Don't let the enemy trick you into fighting your spouse when you should be resisting the evil influence of the enemy. My wife and I often mentor engaged couples, prior to their wedding. One of the most crucial messages they can learn is to give their spouse the benefit of the doubt. So often we ascribe such horrendous motives to those we love. Yet, I believe if we stop and ask ourselves, is this really the kind of person who would have such evil intentions? We would realize we are believing the lies of the enemy.
It is great to see a growing awareness to spiritual warfare in popular media. In addition to this movie, another notable example is the television show Answered Prayers, which showed on TLC this summer. It won't surprise anyone who has read my first book that I have a passion to bring awareness to the unseen battle that rages around us.
Fight the good fight!
So often couples find themselves fighting each other, believing the worst, and unwilling to trust God to do His part in the three-stranded relationship of marriage. Our spouses are not our enemies. But, that doesn't mean there isn't one. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) A biblical marriage is the picture God chooses to represent the relationship of Christ to the Church. So, you better believe the enemy will do all they can to devour marriages.
As believers, we are called to "resist the devil, and he will flee." (James 4:7) Don't let the enemy trick you into fighting your spouse when you should be resisting the evil influence of the enemy. My wife and I often mentor engaged couples, prior to their wedding. One of the most crucial messages they can learn is to give their spouse the benefit of the doubt. So often we ascribe such horrendous motives to those we love. Yet, I believe if we stop and ask ourselves, is this really the kind of person who would have such evil intentions? We would realize we are believing the lies of the enemy.
It is great to see a growing awareness to spiritual warfare in popular media. In addition to this movie, another notable example is the television show Answered Prayers, which showed on TLC this summer. It won't surprise anyone who has read my first book that I have a passion to bring awareness to the unseen battle that rages around us.
Fight the good fight!
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