This blog post helps married or engaged Christian couples to put the wisdom from Proverbs 4:23 into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we hear the phrase \u201cguard your heart,\u201d we often think about Christian singles and those dating in hopes of meeting their future spouse. But what about those who are married? Is guarding your heart still necessary once you\u2019ve committed to your spouse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This topic isn\u2019t often discussed in Christian circles because many singles assume that marriage will solve all their problems. However, that\u2019s far from the truth. In reality, marriage requires even more effort because it is a covenant\u2014a sacred commitment that the enemy opposes. He doesn\u2019t want you and your spouse to succeed or bring glory to God, so he sets traps designed to make one or both of you stumble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual battle, whether single or married. However, those in Godly marriages face unique attacks. Saying \u201cI do\u201d doesn\u2019t make the enemy retreat. Instead, he works even harder to distort the picture of Christ and the Church that marriage is meant to reflect. That\u2019s why guarding your heart remains just as important in marriage as it was during singleness. While marriage won\u2019t always be easy, staying vigilant and partnering with the Holy Spirit can help protect and strengthen your relationship. Here are some ways to guard your heart\u2014even in marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think we can all agree that the enemy is after relationships, starting as early as singleness. He wants to discourage Christian singles to the point where they either settle for less than God\u2019s best or believe the lie that they are meant to be alone, causing them to swear off marriage entirely. For those who do marry, the enemy seeks to create division and strife. It\u2019s disheartening that the divorce rate in the church is nearly the same as in the world. Why is that? If we have the Spirit of God within us, His Word, and a Godly community surrounding us, why are Christian marriages<\/a> still failing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n While every divorce happens for different reasons, we know that heartbreak from divorce was never God\u2019s original design. Marriage was meant to be a lifelong covenant. However, even for those who have experienced divorce, it does not mean they are damaged goods or that God cannot bring new love into their lives. Still, we must equip ourselves to recognize and resist the enemy\u2019s tactics so we can protect our marriages and families for the glory of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n