🍉🍉🍉​Christian marriages crumble for the same reason that backslidden Christians make a shipwreck of their faith. Do you want to know the reason? It’s simple: “Self” was not crucified.
🍉🍉🍉​CHRISTIANITY AND MARRIAGE ARE SIMILAR
​What is the Christian life? It is living in union with the risen Christ. And what is marriage? It is living as one flesh with your spouse. You cannot live as your old self and make a success of your marriage. That is the mistake many are making. They are now married, but they still want to sleep around as they did before, or dress semi-nude as they used to do. It simply doesn’t work.
🍉🍉🍉​DENY YOURSELF AND WALK WITH YOUR SPOUSE
​To truly live in union with Christ, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. You must decrease and let Him increase in you. You don’t seek to increase alongside Him—that doesn’t work.
🍉​Similarly, to successfully live as one flesh with your spouse, you must leave your father and mother and cleave to your spouse. Beyond that, you must put away self-centeredness and individuality, learning to wholeheartedly think in terms of “We” and “Our,” rather than “Me,” “I,” or “My.”
🍉God gave the first couple just one name consisting of four letters: ADAM. He intended for them to merge their individual identities into that one name and become one.
🍉​You must always consider your partner before making any decision or embarking on any endeavour, whether small or great.
🍉🍉🍉​GLADLY CAST OFF SELF
​True Christians do not struggle with the decision to empty themselves. They gladly tear down and cast away every brick of the structure of Self, as seen in St. Paul’s life:
​”Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
🍉​Similarly, those who make a grand success of their matrimony do not struggle or hesitate to let go of Self and individuality. They gladly and zestfully throw away formerly cherished hobbies, friendships, and lifestyles that conflict with their commitment to their beloved spouse. They are willing to go the extra mile, unasked and unpressured, simply to deepen and enrich their companionship with their marriage partner.
🍉🍉🍉​A MATRIMONIAL PACESETTER
​I know a handsome, anointed, God-fearing, sagacious, and well-bred preacher from a highly respected family in Idah in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, who blazed a trail in this regard and has built a solid, successful marriage that has never wavered.
🍉​He did something phenomenal: instead of waiting for his bride to change her surname to his after their wedding—as most men do—he sagaciously adapted his own name to hers before their wedding day in a rare demonstration of love and affection. Just in case you still don’t understand, he changed his first name to a beautiful reflection of his bride’s first name long before she ever changed her surname to his! This is a unique show of love, selflessness and altruism that’s extremely rare. It is inspirational, providing a practical example of outdoing one another in showing honour, as commanded in Scripture:
​”Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)
🍉🍉🍉​VEHEMENTLY THROW SELF OUT
​In marriage, you don’t just let go of Self; you vehemently throw it out. You must recognize that its continued presence will surely jeopardize your relationship, dampen your romance, sour your affection, and cause your union to inevitably capsize.
🍉🍉🍉​THE SAD REALITY
​The sad reality, however, is that most people who marry do not value—let alone esteem—marriage in the first place. To them, it is merely one of those things you do in life once you come of age. Consequently, they see no reason to care for their marriage after tying the knot. And in the event it hits the rocks, they don’t give a hoot, believing they can always contract a new one.
🍉🍉🍉​THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD
​But for those who know the Lord and understand what He commands concerning purity, fidelity, covenants, and holiness, marriage is no trivial matter. It is one of the cornerstones of life, and its success or failure will positively or negatively affect a person’s life and destiny. This being so, they handle their marriage with the utmost wisdom and soberness.
🍉🍉🍉​CONCLUSION
​Are you saved and heaven-bound? Take your marriage seriously. Throw away self-centeredness, individuality, and selfishness. In all considerations, put your partner first. That is true wisdom, maturity, and spirituality.🍉🍉
💕♥️🩷Tonight’s Bedroom Assignment:
Re-read this devotional together just before bedtime and discuss it with open and sincere hearts.
 ✝️Altar Call: Jesus Christ is calling you! Come to Him today in genuine repentance. Believe in Him and be saved!
 🌡️🧪⚗️Scientific Info To Boost Your Marriage:
“Dehydration can lead to reduced blood flow, hormonal imbalances, and fatigue—all of which can impair sexual performance.”
🍉🍉🍉 HALLELUJAH!!!