I thought I should clarify that when I say “Battle plan”, I don’t mean I’m battling my husband.

This fight is with the true enemy.

One time a lady assigned to counsel with me, told me that she thinks we give the devil too much credit.

I will be the first to tell you that God is in complete control and he is Omnipotent.

However, the devil has had his teeth in my home and marriage. I do not dismiss him lightly.

I have prayed for many years that the power of Jesus and his blood would cover our home and myself and our husband. I pray that Jesus will stand against the evil one and protect us. I pray as I post this that God’s truth and word will stand against any destructive plans the devil has.

I do not dwell on the devil. However, I am aware of his schemes and desire to ruin marriages and homes.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

This battle plan came from my desire to see what God’s word says about the matter.

I wanted to know what I could DO! (Controlling wasn’t really that great of an option. I did that. It does not work.)

At the beginning of this, I prayed and asked God to show me what to do.
Many times over the next months, as I read or studied, I’d know that God opened my eyes to the principle in a particular verse. I rejoiced as I copied the verse into my journal along with any thoughts I had.

I noted any words to look up or questions I had that required further study.

Today, I sat down with “the journal”.

I wrote out all the verses that applied to me and what I should do.

Goodness! 3 notebook pages front and back!

As I recorded the things I learned in this journal, I was struck with the fact that the majority applied to me.

Making sure that I am right with God is a full time responsibility.

Today I was reminded that God’s Word supplies the answers to the situations we face. All we have to do is read it and obey.
Sounds easy doesn’t it?

I do not wish to fool you with this post. It was not easy or fun. It was many years of tears and questions and begging God to help me obey the Word.

The Goal

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The Action Plan

1. Treat him as I would like to be treated.

Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

2.Fight sin with good.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

3. Show him the goodness of God.

Romans 2:4 …the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance…

4. Stand firm. This plan does not mean I am a doormat.

1 Peter 5:12 ..this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

(This verse is not exactly about fighting sin, but when I read it this phrase struck me as something to note.)

5. Realize this battle is God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:15 …Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

6. Go the second mile (above and beyond)

Matthew 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
7. Endure. Do not give up.

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

8. Do what God requires of me. Not to heap “coals of fire” out of vengeance, but because I desire to obey God.

Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

9. Realize my actions and attitude can either give him an excuse to sin or convict his heart.

I Peter 3:1 & 5 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

10. Rejoice in the truth–even if it’s an ugly truth. Do not rejoice in his failure. (“I knew he couldn’t change”)

I Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

11. Bless him.

I Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

I wrote some ideas of how I could bless him. When all I wanted to do was justify my anger and hurt him in return, this was not easy. Writing it out and praying (and crying!) over this list was a help to me.

How to give him a blessing

*Pray for him

*Speak kindly to him

(even if this means biting my tongue)

*Write him sweet notes

*Thank him for any thing he does for us

*Confess my own faults to him

(hard to do when I was not “the cause”)

*Do things with him

(I did not desire to be with him or spend extra time with him. This was a sacrifice)

*Let him see Christ in me

 

If you have a situation that needs wisdom, I encourage you to do as I did. Get a blank notebook and as you read your Bible and study any book or Bible study, add verses that the Lord uses to speak to you.

What you need God’s wisdom for may be totally different than what I was looking for. What God leads you to do in your marriage or other situations may be different.

I am not posting these things to say “This is what you must do.” I am trusting that by sharing with you what God has shown me, I can encourage you to look to the Bible for the answers you are searching for.

God doesn’t desire to leave you without answers or hope. He has pre-recorded an answer for you in the Bible. The principles are there that can apply to anything you need wisdom for.

It’s exciting to me as I look back over this trial and read my journal and piece together all the things I wrote down. It’s amazing that God cares so much for my husband and I that he wrote these fabulous words for me to read and apply in my life.

God’s plan is for our homes to bring glory to him. His word records the goal and action plan for your life too.

Filed under: From God's Word, From my Journal, Marriage | 1 Thought Shared »