I was thinking … What picture does the world see of Christian brides? Why do we portray a picture of failure and equality with the world in our marriages? Statistics say there is no difference in the divorce rate between Christians and non-Christians. Can God work in a Christian marriage to make it joyful? If God has saved us (wretched women that we are – frail, fragile and depraved) and promised to take us to heaven for evermore, can He not work in our marriages? 

I was thinking … When Christian marriages fall apart, I am so saddened. When I consider His love, all-power, wise, faithful and just attributes, I am saddened that these hurting women are not willing to allow Him to restore what the locust have eaten. Sadness. His attributes tell me that He knows the whole picture. He is making the crooked straight. He is fitting it all together even the messes I make. What an awesome God. What picture do I want the world to see? What do you think? See more in Drawing Close for Brides under  Brides today.

Sitting with a young new bride, watching her soften as she acknowledges these truths, hearing her make public announcement that she will trust God for her marriage and hear of her willingness to learn to be the bride God has called her to be, it is joy unspeakable to my ears and heart. I pray faithfully for these brides. Psalm 18:20 tells us that God blesses our tiniest obedience. Imagine this beautiful picture.

I was thinking … what a testimony for the world to see Christian marriages trust God for the issues that are challenging all around because we live in an evil world. Let’s not give up. Let’s live in hope not as the world hopes but hope in our wonderful all knowing loving God.  What picture did the world see yesterday? What picture will they see today? Comment.

Psalm 8:1,3a,9 (NAS) God’s greatness

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers…, O Lord our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.

His greatness (majesty) exceeds that which creation can reveal. He tells the ocean how far it can come on shore. He changes the king’s heart.

When we begin to understand God’s attributes – Love, Supremacy, Sovereignty, All-Powerful, Good, Omniscient, All-Wise, Omnipresent, Immutable, Faithful, Holy, Just, and so much more, we know that in God’s greatness we can trust Him. We can trust Him even in our marriages.

Oh, how awesome His sovereignty! His way is perfect. He sees the whole canvas finished. He knows the story from beginning to end. What man does for evil, He will make for good.

In His sovereignty He is in control over the crooked and the straight of life. “Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other” (Ecc.7:13-14).

Myrna Alexander in Behold Your God says the “straight” might be viewed as the smooth of life, when it seems that things are fitting together nicely. The “crooked” is when things are still fitting together, but you don’t know it! There is the “crooked” that God causes and the “crooked” that we create for ourselves and God allows.

When we pray, “Oh Lord, bless this mess,” Romans 8:28 says He has! Our living Father, who is in control of everything, has worked even our mistakes into His plans for good!

I ask myself:

1. Am I willing to trust God with my marriage?
2. Am I willing to trust Him with the seemingly crooked of life?
3. Am I willing to seek God first for my plans and eliminate the “messes” I so often make?

Marriage is “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

God is good! Nahum 1:7