4 Stands Against the Satanic Attacks on Marriage

Marriage is one of the most sacred institutions in society … because healthy marriages build healthy families who then build healthy societies!

There has been a concerted effort from Satan to destroy the marriages of spiritual leaders. We want to share this as a prophetic warning and heighten your focus to put the important work into your marriage. We must be proactive against the schemes and the plot of Satan against our marriage.

Last week we gave you 4 stands against the satanic attack on marriage, and, this week we want to give you 4 more practices that protect the principle of marriage. So, how do we build healthy marriages and ultimately healthy families? And ultimately transform society.

Four areas of influence that can impact the success or the failure of our marriages:

1. Practice the spiritual disciplines in your marriage.

Watch last week’s podcast also. We covered the area of spiritual disciplines with four different kinds of practices. When we practice spiritual disciplines in our marriage, they are transformative. Because we are practicing them with the person who knows us the most. The disciplines create in us integrity and faithfulness so that we can walk out our faith in everyday life with our spouse. Not just in front of the church.

We cannot simply GO to church, we have to BE the church. I want to be the same person at home as I am at church. Ask yourself a few questions: Do I pray, read the Bible, worship or fast at home? Or is that only done at church?

We love to do our spiritual disciplines together. I love to hear Jessica pray and worship! The spiritual disciplines build spiritually healthy marriages. Set a time for this or it won’t ‘just happen.’

2. Affection is a powerful tool against Satan and the attacks on our marriage.

Affection toward each other is one of the most spiritual things you can do for your marriage. Holding hands is powerful. It is unifying. It is a transfer of energy and strength. Kiss every day. You can't stay mad at someone you are kissing.

Sex is God’s design for marriage. When you withhold sex from each other you are actually working with the enemy who is trying to separate you and create distance between you - both mentally and physically

Send a text and say something positive about your spouse daily. Our first thought and our last thought of every day should be positive and life giving.

3. The family dinner and mealtime is a great place to begin spiritual formation.

You are seated together and looking at each other in the eyes. The mealtime is a sacred moment. Look at meals in the Bible.

The mealtime is relational, unifying, information sharing, safe, and laughter should abound. When you eat together, focus on talking. Open up. Ask questions - Name a win and a loss from today? How can I help you more?

Read a book, listen to a podcast, or do your devotions at this time - then you don’t have to worry about planning more time for devotions because you do them during mealtime

Let me say something about dates…

You don’t have to spend a lot of money, you don’t have to go away, and you don’t have to dress up. All those things are good once in a while. But, a date is a specific time set aside for both of you that you look forward to. So don’t feel like you have to go broke or over-plan for your time together to be considered a date.

4. Spouse recreation and activities promote healthy marriages.

There is something about exercise and recreation that creates health and unity.

That might be working out in a fitness center, going to the gym, biking, or running. The health benefits of recreation are obvious…your improved physical condition, less stress, and clarity of thought are all outcomes of recreation.

You don’t have to be in shape to get into shape - even the smallest workouts will be of great wellness to you

Finally

We have to fight the battle being waged by Satan for our marriages. The marriages of spiritual leaders are high on the target list.

Remember, we wrestle not against flesh and blood (each other), we are in a battle with principalities (Satan) - and we fight against principalities with principles. These daily practices will protect your marriage.

It is said that it only takes a few days of bad patterns to create bad habits. Well, that means then that a few days of good patterns will produce good habits.

Take these 4 simple steps together: Practicing spiritual disciplines, Affection & intimacy in the relationship, Family dinners and devotion together, and Recreation & exercise together.

These 4 practices will safeguard your marriage from schemes, plots, plans, and attacks of destruction focused on our marriages as spiritual leaders.