Pursuit
Prayer Time
This last week as I spent time in prayer, we prayed for all of the things my husband and I are apart of, our dreams and hopes, his career, ministry projects, my business, family, church, trips, etc. I prayed that in all that we do, He would be first and that we would be protected from being distracted from our purpose. As I prayed about pursuing all of the things the that Lord had laid on our hearts, I heard the Lord say, “Don’t pursue them, pursue Me.” I felt a shift in the atmosphere as I started to pursue Him in my prayer time with passion! He started speaking as I began to listen.
What Are Your Pursuits
When you and your spouse sit down and discuss the future, what are you pursuing? Careers, trips, children, each other, a home? What I have found in this life is we are usually pursuing something! We are always looking forward to the next thing in our lives. My husband and I will talk about what is coming up next. Whether it is our vacation, trips overseas, projects we are working on, finishing our home, an outreach that’s coming up, or even what’s for dinner. It seems our marriage is usually adjusting to one change or another.
Changes
Changes are not always easy. We love to see the benefits of change, but the process is another issue all together. It’s exciting and new! We love when God puts something on our heart to do for Him. The idea, the creative flow, the “sparkle” – so to speak. Then comes the work. Change is hard when you are starting something that requires discipline. We love the pursuit of the win, the finished product, the life that is renewed. Where it gets messy is the in-between. That space from the first excitement to the “finish line”.
Messy
How does your marriage look when you are faced with a change while pursuing something new? The excitement of a new business, the joy of a bible study, that idea that makes you have a hard time falling asleep. It’s all great until you start working toward that amazing goal, that wonderful idea, and you realize it may take a lot longer than you thought. Why? It’s messy, and the hours are long, you are going non stop, and you still have your regular responsibilities. We pursue it with passion, and then comes the mess. It’s overwhelming at times, and we have to remember the reason that we started it in the first place.
Look Up
Whenever we start to get overwhelmed we look up! Stopping and realigning with what we felt in prayer gets us reengaged and refocused. What was the last thing the Lord said? My husband and I get together and pray, then we talk out what we decided and make sure it all fits. Did we take on too much? Do we need a day to get away and get filled up together? Taking a drive and looking at all of God’s beauty is one way we get filled and allow the feeling of being overwhelmed to lift.
Pursuing Together
When we pursue something we do it together. Sometimes we have things we do separately, but it always lines up with where we are headed with each other. We make sure it lines up with what God dropped in our hearts and minds, and we do it hand in hand. If I am headed one direction and he another, where do we become one? Where is God in all of it?
Pursuing God
Back to my story. When I prayed, and God said, “pursue Him”, I know we got re-aligned with His purpose for us. He gets all of the glory, and we are protected. Daily we go before the throne of grace and find a place of peace and joy to do all of the work. If it gets messy, we just get back to prayer. Our pursuit of Jesus is all we need, to find all we need. Our marriage depends on our pursuit of Him. All of the things that are hard, exciting, and messy fall into place, or become less stressful as we do. Are you pursuing Him today? Make sure in all of the things you feel to do as a married couple that you are pursing Jesus!
Scriptures
Monday: Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Our pursuit of God starts when we go to Him in prayer and worship.
Tuesday: Matthew 6:33 says, “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Something is always coming down the pipeline in our lives so make sure your first pursuing God, His kingdom, and His righteousness! God will take care of the rest!
Wednesday: Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Changes come and work comes with it, speak this scripture when it gets too hard.
Thursday: Proverbs 18:9 says, “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” When it’s messy and the hours are long in pursuing your dreams, remember to pray and give it your all. This scripture sums up what you don’t want to be.
Friday: Psalm 61:2 says, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” In all you pursue in life, remember to pursue Him first! He takes all of that ‘overwhelm’ and brings focus back to why you are doing what you’re doing! It’s for Him and His glory!
Saturday: Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Our pursuit of God can only be done in marriage with us two walking together in agreement with each other and Jesus.
Sunday: Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Faith is how we can pursue Him and how our marriage sees all of the miracles that come when we do!
Contact
Please feel free to contact us at janene@happilyevermarried.org and read and share more blog posts at http://happilyevermarried.org
Thank you for investing in your marriage and you too can have a happily ever married marriage!!
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