Monday, July 2, 2018

Doing Life Together

"It is not good for man to be alone." With this bold statement, God put Adam to sleep and performed a surgery on him that created Eve - a woman. When God created Adam, He was pleased with all of his creation, up to that point, yet He recognized that someone vital was missing. He used Adam's rib to create and form Eve. How do we get a woman - a fully developed woman made for a man out of a bone? Only God could do that.

Like all of His creation, in His divine wisdom, God knew what He was doing when He made Eve for Adam. He knew the communion, and the intricacies of marriage were what Adam needed. It's fashionable to bash marriage today, but I am not from that school of thought. When Adam first saw Eve, he was awestruck! Wooo man! The Bible
notes that they were naked and not ashamed (Genesis 2:4-25). This statement represents the intimacy we strive for in marriage, because soon after they were naked and ashamed.

 In this state of innocence and intimacy, they had the same spiritual foundation. They were both newly created beings made for each other. One of the keys to greater intimacy in marriage is to start on the same spiritual foundation; a starting point that acknowledges the headship of God in every area of your life. Adam and Eve were in this space. With different values, you traverse divergent paths, but with similar values, you're in sync, similar to a successful 3-legged team.

As you build your spiritual foundation you will learn the importance of these two things:

  • Praying together as often as you can – sometimes what you cannot say to each other you can say to God; but
  • Not neglecting your own individual spiritual walk – You're a couple, but as a Christian, each is required to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). To take this one step further, how you live out your faith will have a significant impact on you and your relationships so nurture your walk so that you bring your best to each other.
I'm married; I love being married, and I wish others would come to the same appreciation of marriage. More of my best marriage thoughts can be found in my book: My Best Marriage Advice. Pick up a copy.

 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs[d] and closed up the opening.  Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.

“At last!” the man exclaimed.

“This one is bone from my bone,
    and flesh from my flesh!
She will be called ‘woman,’
    because she was taken from ‘man.’”

This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:21-25 [NLT]

How has having the same spiritual foundation impacted your marriage?

--Nylse

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13 comments:

  1. What a beautiful picture of a God cantered and intimate marriage. Thank you for the tips on building a spiritual foundation!

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  2. I have very much enjoyed your post today, Nylse. Thank you for being a promoter of marriage God's way! Interestingly my post today relates to a really rough spot my husband and I safely navigated later in our marriage, but not without spiritual bumps and bruises. We sailed safely through rough waters only because Jesus was the One to calm the storm and give us good instruction. Our Good Father redeems everything and wastes none of our painful places.
    Thank you for your encouragement today!

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  3. Great post, Nylse! We've been married nearly 44 years and I can say there have been a lot of bumps, but the foundation is Jesus, and He brings us through every time. Blessings to you! I'm your neighbor at #IspireMeMonday.

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  4. I completely agree! Marriage done God's way is work, but such a joyful work!

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  5. It just keeps getting better and more joyful!

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  6. God knew what He was doing, and through a deep sleep too.

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  7. Praying together is something that I haven't done enough with my husband of late. It's such a bonding thing as well as good for spiritual growth.

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  8. My husband and I didn't start praying with each other, for each other until later in our marriage--it's been wonderful!

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  9. Wonderful. My husband is such a godly partner and parent. After almost 20 years, I still can't believe he picked me. Thank you or helping me celebrate him today. laurensparks.net

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  10. Yes, two are better than one. What beautiful words you shared. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Christian Link-Up.

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  11. A common goal, a common bond, a common foundation. Musts for a marriage to thrive as God planned. thanks for your post!

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  12. Thank you for sharing! Communicating about values and ensuring you're on the same path is so important.

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