As my wife cried and honestly expressed, I thought to myself ‘Geez …but I do ask you how you are doing (everyday)?’ I pleaded my case, but I knew that winning this conversation wasn’t going to fix the problem. Ultimately, I needed to humble myself to serve and love a little more in areas, which cause me discomfort. The worse about all this is that ‘I’m tired of adapting!’ We’ve been married for more than seven years and she should know the deal by now, right? Maybe… but since I married a woman with certain needs that I’m obviously not fulfilling; I ‘gotta step my game up’.
Our marriage had hit another ‘fork in the road’ and a decision needed to be made. Luckily, when it comes to my marital relationship, I’m a purpose-driven servant refusing to offer my wife a legitimate reason to mentally or physically detach from me. Hopefully, this will keep me married for a lifetime. I know my wife’s worth. I’ll do what I need to do within the will of God to keep her heart and earthly attention.
There’s daily moments in life where opportunities to decide are present. Whether you recognized life asked you a question or not, you made a choice. As days pass, your answers to life’s questions play out. Typically in hindsight, we can pinpoint when and what decisions were made. From your circle of influence to your sources of entertainment, what you accept in your life molds the way you think and process information. Whether we admit it or not, we are all being brainwashed.
One of the best gifts that God gave man is free will. We are allowed to program ourselves to operate the way we desire. Our words and actions are a direct reflection of our sources of inspiration and what we sincerely value. Before any positive changes are made, we all have to take ownership. Sometimes what we do with our time, energy, effort, and expenses doesn’t match what our mouth says we value. This is a major conflict of interest, which will cause you serious heartache.
When there are discrepancies with what I say I value most, I evaluate the direction of my time, energy, effort, and expenses. Typically, the root cause of my issues are that those four identities are not aligned with the course I desire my life. From my experience, this is the case with most people. We say we want one thing, but practice behaviors which lead to a different spiritual, mental, relational, physical, and financial lifestyle.
Be honest with yourself and others about your values. If you don’t like what your lifestyle reflects as worthwhile, make some changes like surrounding yourself with reminders and encouragers of your morals. For me, my Christian faith is an endless, unchanging, and sustaining-proven source for a productive and fulfilling life. For example, regarding my relational issue with my wife; God has provided me many models of grace, sacrificial service, and understanding, while commanding and encouraging me to do the same.
You are being influenced. Who and what is influencing you? Is your source worthy of following and consistently reflecting your values? Where is your source leading you?
Commit for the 1st time –
http://www.intouch.org/you/all-things-are-new/content?topic=how_do_i_accept_jesus_as_my_savior_all_things
Commit to SERVE –
http://www.intouch.org/you/all-things-are-new/content?topic=does_god_really_want_me_to_serve_all_things
