Moments Together for Couples 11/26
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
November 26
A Test of Commitment Matthew 19:6
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.
When we enter into marriage, we should do it with such total commitment that we don't consider the possibility of bailing out. There should be no escape clauses in a marriage relationship.I think, however, that we sometimes don't realize how often we do and say things that undermine the marriage commitment. I have a series of questions I'd like you to answer-a test, if you will, of your commitment:
Do you ever threaten to leave your mate?Is your mate secure in your commitment to your marriage?Are you more committed to your mate than to your career?Are you more committed to your mate than to your children?Are you more committed to your mate than to your hobbies and favorite activities?Do you emotionally leave your mate by withdrawing for an extended period of time because of conflict?Do you mentally leave your mate by staying preoccupied with other things?Are you interested in meeting your mate's needs and actively doing what you can to meet them?Finally, how do you think your mate would answer each of these questions?Questions like these can surface some important marital issues such as resolving conflict, making your spouse a priority over children or hobbies, or meeting your mate's needs. Why not take a quick commitment inventory by really answering those questions!
Prayer:
Ask God to give you the courage to fulfill your commitment, even when your spouse doesn't respond.
Discuss: After going through the questions, rank the top two or three issues that need to be addressed. Then write out how you're going to practically demonstrate commitment to your mate.