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"Let God’s Word Renovate Your MarriageBy Lynette Kittle“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” -Hebrews 4:12For people who are looking for their marriage relationship to be renovated, start writing marriage devotionals. At least that’s been my experience.My passion to help couples grow in their relationship to Christ and to each other, as well as to help encourage them to get through tough times and stay married, is strong.Interestingly, as I’ve been writing couples devotionals, my marriage is being renovated more than ever before. Because how can I possibly write and encourage couples without His word applying it to my marriage first?It’s become a time of testing of my willingness to choose to put into practice more of what I know to be true but in the past didn’t take the time, effort, or priority to implement.Just imagine my light bulb moment where I realized God is doing a work in me all the while I’m trying to help others to be refreshed, renewed, and restored in their marriage relationships.Surprising to me, and in His wisdom, patience, and kindness, God knew exactly how to speed up the process of fining tuning my heart in relationship to my husband.As I’ve been delving into Scripture in writing the devotionals, like Hebrews 4:12 emphasizes, His word is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword; it has been judging the thoughts and attitudes of my heart especially in regard to my marriage relationship.Psalm 139:2 reminds me how “You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.”In writing with this judging of my thoughts and attitudes, has come a squeezing out of words, being dug out from deep within me, pushed, pulled, tugged, and coaxed to the surface. The process has caused me to question if I had unknowingly let what seemed like minor truths in God’s word, fall to the wayside?It has caused me to examine if my heart had allowed, and even nurtured, resistance to fully following God’s wisdom for marriage? To question if in response to facing marital disappointments and disillusionments through the years, if I had justified letting a rebellious attitude towards my husband have place in my heart?Seeing more clearly now how immersing myself in His word is the key to the renovation process, I’m discovering daily how vital it is in marriage to listen to God’s voice rather than well-meaning voices offering direction and advice based on worldly knowledge.Popular ideas and philosophies may sound good, but if they aren’t based on God’s word, they’ll lead couples off track because they are more in tune with the world’s wisdom than with God’s truth.Likewise, in marriage, as Romans 12:2 urges, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, iBelieve.com, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, Startmarriageright.com, growthtrac.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.For More Great Resources for Christian Couples, Visit Crosswalk&#39;sMarriage Channel.Do you struggle with fear, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions? You are not alone. In our FREE podcast, Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery helps us see different areas of life where fear has a foothold, and how our identity as children of God can help us move from fear to faithful, bold living."
<https://wavaam.com/devotionals/crosswalk-couples-devotional/crosswalk-couples-devotional-august-7>