The Battle of the Sexes
The Battle of the sexes brings discord in our homes. God has made us to live in harmony rather than strife. The battle of the sexes is a disagreement or fight for power between a man and a woman. The enemy stages these attacks against us by whispering thoughts in our mind. These accusations if unchecked can cause our emotions to spiral downward until we are in are in a true battle. You may recognize his telltale warfare tactics. They often sound something like this:
“She ALWAYS does this…”
“He NEVER takes time to understand my needs…”
“I TOLD HIM what I needed, but he still did this…”
“She is SELFISH…”
“I’m NOT going to put up with this anymore…”
“She is never going to CHANGE…”
“If he is going to do this, then I am going to…”
Have you been in a battle of the sexes like this? If you are married, the answer may be– YES! The enemy hates marriages.
If you are in the middle of a battle, ask yourself this…
“Where did I allow the enemy to get a foothold in my mind and in my emotions?” I know that when I open the door by allowing the enemy access to my heart by dwelling on accusations I make my home vulnerable. As Christians we have the responsibility to close every door and window against satan’s attacks. We can guard our hearts and seek refuge in Jesus.
As I sought the Lord for insight on how I’d allowed the enemy access to my heart recently, He showed me a petty thing that my husband had done. He had sinned against me in a small way, but the dart had nonetheless wounded my heart. Jesus also showed me a deeper issue of recurring pain in my marriage. He led me to forgive my husband—completely. Then, like a skilled surgeon, He removed the enemy’s arrow out of my wounded heart. He flushed out the poison of hopelessness and renewed my heart with hope. He cut away the disappointment and filled the empty space with courage.
Week 5 – 9 Traits Marriage Study (Restoration)
Restoration—Understand this: Satan wants your divinely ordained marriage to fail. His battle tactics can cause injuries that, if left unattended, can certainly end in death. Restoration is a process of healing and building reinforcements to prevent future attacks. Jesus calls us to restoration in our relationships:
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Restoration repairs and rebuilds trust when it is compromised. Redemption is the divine exchange of our sin with God’s righteousness. Jesus is the only One who can pay off the debt that each spouse owes to the other.
Let’s discuss Chapter 8 of #MarriageRocks
Read Chapter 8 of 9 Traits of a Life-Giving Marriage. Reflect and journal the following questions. If you signed up, you will receive a free download today in email that you can use.
- Has your mind been filled with thoughts from the enemy’s spiritual warfare tactics like described in chapter 8?
- What situations has your marriage endured that the enemy intended for a trap?
- “God is for our marriage to be healthy and life-giving.” What truths in God’s Word can you pray this week for a life-giving marriage?
We will see you back here Wednesday to discuss chapter 9.
Here’s a beautiful printable that reminds us that we take our lead from Christ. Jesus restores peace in our homes. Click the picture to download your copy.
Restoration in marriage brings healing and hope…