🌹🌹Every spouse enjoys the emotions of love—those “feel-good” sensations that make you grateful to be with that special person. You were born to be “one flesh” with them, bonded till death in the covenant love of marriage.
🌹🌹ELUSIVE AND SHIFTY
However, unless you learn how to retain them, the emotions of love can be elusive and shifty. They appear like rain clouds, only to dissipate quickly, leaving you wondering what happened.
Sometimes, these emotions can even be treacherous. They may surface and surge toward a stranger of the opposite sex—someone you have no business loving.
This often happens when you meet someone physically attractive who behaves affectionately toward you. In these moments, your emotions might scream lies into your heart, whispering that you have finally “found” your “true missing rib” or the person you should have married. Many undiscerning spouses have been ruined by these feelings as they forsook a solid marriage for a fleeting infatuation. The Word of God identifies these misplaced “emotions of love” as lust.
🌹🌹FOCUS ON TRUE, SELF-GIVING LOVE
Dear spouses, while the emotions of love are good, you do not need to feel them every single second for your union to be sweet, solid, and happy.
Your marriage must be anchored in true, self-giving love that flows from the heart, rather than mere sensations buoyed by fleeting feelings. Feelings alone are like vapor or smoke that vanish into thin air.
Are the emotions of love real? Of course. However, they are feelings intended for one person and one person only: your God-given spouse!
🌹🌹BEYOND THE HALCYON DAYS
It is important to realize that the feelings of love are not just memories to sit and reminisce upon, wondering if you will ever find them again. They are not trapped in the “halcyon days” of your early romance; they are within your reach right now. See these emotions as the “aroma and fragrance” of the acts of love that you do for each other.
When you go out of your way to meet a need in your mate’s life that touches their innermost being, you don’t just satisfy them—you stir their emotions of love, even if that wasn’t your primary goal.
🌹🌹CONCLUSION
To cultivate a union where the emotions of love are constantly present, be kind, generous, and gracious to one another. Be quick to forgive offenses and easy to placate.
Be gentle and tenderhearted. As you practice these virtues, love will become a constant presence in your marriage. You will find yourselves falling in love with each other again and again. And oh, how sweet that is!
💕❤️ Tonight’s Bedroom Assignment:
Reread this devotional together just before bedtime and discuss it with an open and sincere heart.
📚📖✒️ Quotes For Reflection:
“Sir/Ma, there’s no doubting the fact that the harvest is plenteous and the labourers few. Yet, God expects you to still be a good, dutiful and responsible Spouse in your home alongside your job, business, ministry, etc.”(Anselm Ahman. From Lovebirds’ Devotional of September 6, 2024)
✝️ Altar Call:
Jesus Christ is calling you! Come to Him today and be saved!
🌡️⚗️ Scientific Info To Boost Your Marriage:
“Frequent embracing between husband and wife significantly lowers blood pressure and reduces stress by releasing oxytocin, while strengthening emotional bonds, trust, and feelings of safety. Regular hugs also enhance intimacy, boost mood, and help resolve conflicts faster.”(Scientific research)
🎸🎷🪘 Anointed Music Section