It’s day 4 of the 40 Day Marriage Challenge at Refocused! Today: 

What in my marriage is about “Me?”

L- Log the verse: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
O- Observations: I used a concordance (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G26&t=KJV) to dig deeper into the meaning of the words in their original language (Greek). It’s amazing how you can ALWAYS go further into God’s Word, even when verses seem redundant. Here’s what I found: the word for “not” is actually spelled “me” in Greek! No joke. 
V- Verse’s implications for marriage: If I am focused on “me,” I am not loving my spouse with the sacrificial love He lavishes on us. The more I know (become aware, feel, perceive speak, understand) God’s love through His Word and Spirit, the purer I will love my husband. Jesus has not left us alone in this, but has given us His Spirit to help us love our spouse with His love. 
E- End in prayer: Lord, we praise you for being LOVE. Help us all to truly know and greater understand your love so our marriages won’t be about us, but you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 
Think about and share if you feel led an area in your marriage that needs to be less about you.

It’s day 3 of the 40 Day Marriage Challenge here at Refocused Bible Study! 

L- Log the verse- ““Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:7 ESV 

O- observations – You are so LOVED by the Father! This love is meant be be deeply experienced by having a personal and growing relationship with God. Then, we are to share this wellspring of unconditional love- the kind of love we receive from God- unselfish and pure- produced by His Holy Spirit in us – with others- starting with and in a special covenant way with our spouse. 

V- Verse’s implications for marriage – Be committed to experiencing God’s love for you. Bask in it. Don’t seek this kind of love from your husband. There are places in your heart that need God’s touch before you can offer an unselfish love to your husband. Know you are securely loved by God. Ask Him to pour an overflow of His agape love you receive from Him into your spouse daily. This supernatural one is rich in mercy, slow to anger, and forgiving as far as the east is to the west. 
E- End in prayer – Love Himself, our source of Love, the face of love, we praise you. Thank you for loving us first, changing us with your love, and giving us your love freely to give to others. Please forgive us for the times we haven’t loved our spouses with your love. We’ve held onto selfish things. We’ve put up walls. Soften our hearts to love our own husbands with abandonment to self, covered and secure in your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Question- How do you experience God’s love most fully? Corporate worship? Outside in nature? Alone with His Word? Prayer journaling? Comment below and commit doing that today so you have an overflow of His love to give your husband.

It’s day two of the 40 Day Marriage Challenge here at Refocused Bible Study.

This whole chapter is so good! Especially v.31-39!

L – Log the verse – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:37‬ ‭ESV 

O – Observations – “all these things” in the verses leading up to this one include: trouble, calamity, persecution, hunger, coldness, endangerment, and being threatened with death. These were serious troubles believers were facing. Paul was able to pen these words through the Holy Spirit because though these were real fears, Christ had already given them victory by conquering sin and death on the cross. 
V- Verse pertains to marriage – Jesus’ victory on the cross brings us victory in marriage. We face real troubles and stressors in marriage. (If you are in physical danger in your marriage please get to a safe place and seek professional help, but continue to seek Jesus’ help!) All issues are won on the cross. Jesus loves you and your spouse no matter what’s going on in your relationship and he is FOR you and your marriage. Believe he is allowing any trial to bring good and to strengthen your relationship to Him and your relationship with your husband. Today pray for one area in your marriage that is lacking. Trust God to bring victory in His power and timing. 
E- end in prayer- Inseparable Savior, thank you for victory in my marriage – over any opposing force in the spiritual or physical realm. Keep pushing back the darkness and bring victory in all areas of my marriage. For your glory, Amen. 
Give God glory below by sharing one way He’s answered a prayer in your marriage, and given you and your husband victory over an issue. ✨

It’s day one of the 40 Day Marriage Challenge here at Refocused Bible Study! I’m sharing my devotion pattern for this series below. I hope you’ll join us! 

L – log the verse- “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
O- observations – God didn’t wait until I acted worthy of His love. He gave his most treasured person for me while I still went my own way. 
V – verse’s implications for marriage- Font wait until your spouse is worthy of love to demonstrate love for him. Give your very best love to him before you deem him deserving. You are following God’s unselfish pattern for covenant love when you decide to love him this way. 
E – end in prayer- Lord, I praise you for your unconditional love for me, and for all reading these words. Please help us love our spouses the way you’ve loved us; even if and when we don’t think they are worthy of it. Thank you for dying for us when we were still sinners. 

In Jesus’ name – Amen
Challenge of the day – ask God to search your heart and show you when you typically hold grudges against your husband (when he doesn’t help with chores, etc). Ask him to help you love him with His love at all times. 
What did the Lord speak to you through today’s devotion? Comment below! Pray for each other.