Revitalize your marriage - By Jim Hohnberger

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Copyright 2003 by

Jim Hohnberger

All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA.

(Adapted from Empowered Living,

Copyright Pacific Press Publishing

Assocociation, Nampa, Idaho.

Used by permission.)

Published by

Amazing Facts, Inc.

P. O. Box 1058

Roseville, CA 95678-8058

Cover Design by Haley Trimmer

Layout Design by Greg Solie


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Revitalize Your Marr iage46


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the greater pleasure of a life free of the pain and irritation thesplinter was causing. In so doing, he vividly demonstrated theproblem that exists in many, if not most marriages. Unlike

Andrew, we have not learned to remove the splinters, and wecontinue to suffer needlessly.What are the splinters or thorns in your partner that irri-

tate or hurt you daily? I bet that even as you read this, one ortwo came to mind. If so, you have some thorns to be removedin your marriage. Generally what happens is that we look at

these thorns and every time weve touched them they are sopainful that we simply try and avoid the thorn in the future.As the years pass by, we find more and more thorns and theybecome increasingly painful, until at last not knowing how toremove them or because we are too afraid to try, we chooseamputation and divorce our partner. Then we look for a new

partner, whom we naively believe will have no thorns. Ofcourse, we are living in a fantasy world when we think that.Our new partner may have a different set of baggage than ourfirst, but we will start the same process all over again. Howmuch better to fix what we have, and I dont believe thatmeans lowering your sights and learning to be happy in aless-than-ideal situation.

No matter how hopeless your marriage seems, you canchange it for the better. This wont happen in a week. Rather,its an ongoing process that will put you on the road ofchange and restore hope that maybe, just maybe, things can

be different between you and your spouse.Friends, it can work for you as well. Remove the thornsfrom your relationships, and when you get rid of one, remove

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A CHRISTIAN GUIDE TOMARRIAGE

When dealing with deeply personal areas it can be hard to sep-arate emotion from fact. Too often we tend to justify self rather thanlook honestly at the cause-and-effect in our relationships. Seek the wisdom of God and a willingness of spirit that may reveal

to you just the message He has for you. Look for solutions. Spend special time with your spouse and with God. Make your

devotional life more than a formality. Make sure youre seeking to

know God as an individual. Ask God to grant you the freedom of thought to really see what

your marriage might become through His power. Ask God to give you a clear mind to recall what was so special

about your relationship. In seeking God, think about what it was like for Adam and Eve

when God walked with them in the Garden. In your quiet time with God, ask Him to help you develop the prin-

ciples of effective communications. Use them as effective toolsunder His guidance.

Ask God to remove the defensiveness that just seems natural withthe sinful flesh we all share, and to give you a sense of objectivity.

Draw close to God and seek to lose yourself in Him, that you maygo into each day submitted and willing to consider openly andobjectively your partners point of view.

Ask for divine help in removing the thorns that come with our oldand sinful ways and attitudes.

Enjoy each day with your spouse and with God. Rejoice that you

have begun the process of change. This is the greatest evidencethat God is working in your lives.


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P. O. Box 1058 Roseville, CA 95678-8058

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Revitalize your marriage - By Jim Hohnberger