The One Where Jesus Misses You

One of the devil's tactics is to distract you from Jesus. If you aren't thinking about God, you aren't talking with Him. You aren't deepening your relationship with Him. Our marriages are supposed to reflect the Gospel. The Word of God. We are supposed to be examples of God's Word. Marriage isn't meant to be for your spouse to meet your needs and fulfill your dreams and goals for each other. I mean that's a great bonus if it happens, but not the sole purpose. If you feel like your spouse is constantly letting you down, perhaps it's time to look at your perspective of marriage. Is is based on what God says? Or is it based on the world around you and what you think it should be?

We live in a very "me" centered world. What's in it for me? How will this benefit me? We were created to be servants of God. Our first thoughts - even in our marriages - should be what can I do to help you? What do you need? Think about that a second. If you both set your selfishness aside and only concentrate on your spouse, you will ultimately both be helping each other out 100% of the time. It's not about us individually, it's about us together and how we get through the tough stuff as one. You'll have a servant's attitude of love. We are supposed to be a part of the world but not conform ourselves to the world.

Romans 12:2 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

How we love each other and treat each other in our marriages should be an example of how Christ loves the church and His people. I'm not talking about faking it. We will have struggles in our marriages...that's a promise. There will be times when it gets downright ugly. We are both imperfect humans after all. How we handle those struggles is what makes the difference. Are we displaying pictures of unconditional love, forgiveness, and faith in the future of God's promises? It's not about equality either. There should be no scoreboard. This isn't a game of who's going to win the battles. It's about loving each other equally and wholeheartedly, just as God loves each of us. Our marriages are supposed to be a united example of God to others.

Ephesians 4:2-4 "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future."

Romans 12:10 "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

That being said, if we don't spend real and true quality time with each other in our marriages, do you think we'll truly know each other? Our relationship would fade fast and we'd become strangers passing in the halls. The best part of my day coming home from work is talking with my spouse. Finding out all the details of their day. Talking about or dreams and goals together. Spending time and catching up when we've been apart. God feels the same about us. He wants to talk with us when we awaken in the morning. He wants to hear about our concerns, goals, hopes and dreams. He wants to hear if we are suffering or struggling. He wants to help us through every single details of our lives. He wants to talk with us, not at us. He wants a two way relationship with us that's deep and meaningful and full of quality time.

The devil, on the other hand, wants us distracted, busy with all the things going on around us in the world. He wants to consume our time with so many things in the world that we lose sight of God and our relationship with Him.

James 4:8 "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

When my husband goes away for his annual fishing trip every year, I miss him. I'm supposed to. We are partners and one unit so when the other half is away, you should long for their return. I am super happy he gets to spend some quality time with some of his friends and share in his joy of catching those big ole' fish. It makes me happy when I see him enjoying the things he loves to do. I share in his joy because he shares his joys with me.

Yes, he sent me messages as soon as he got this big ole' fish. He was so excited and wanted to share the excitement with me. I could actually feel his excitement through the phone. God wants us to catch big fish and have joys in life. More importantly, He wants to share in those things with us - together. He wants us to eagerly talk with him and share all the thing going on in our lives. Marriage is one of the deepest and truest relationships we will have in life on earth. It's not born into. It's intentional work towards being one unit. It's committing to being there for each other, sharing in each other's joys and sadness, supporting each other and listening. Being present with each other.

When the devil succeeds in distracting us with all those life things in the world, Jesus misses us. God longs for our relationship with us and loves to hear from us every day. He's right there waiting for us to say - "Good morning God, I look forward to this day with you. Please pour your Holy Spirit into every crevice of my being today." "Look what just happened just now God!" "Thank you God for blessing me with this big fish!" All the things that go on in our daily lives, He wants to share with us. From the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep. He wants to be a daily part of our lives in all the big things as well as the little things that make us happy.

When my husband and I are apart from each other, we miss each other. We have grown used to sharing our lives and the details of our lives together daily and when that doesn't happen, we miss it. Sure we still talk daily and send texts or messages here and there, but it's not the same as being present. God wants us present with Him every day as well. If you keep God in the center of your life individually and treat your marriage as a true example of Jesus and His Word, it will carry through into your marriage. Just as God intended.