DAY 26

Day 26
"Love is Responsible"

"When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things."
(Romans 2:1)

In Day 26 you will find these statements and appropriate questions, when love takes responsibility for its actions, it's not to prove how noble you've been but rather to admit how much further you have to go. . . .What might happen in your relationship if instead of passing blame, you first admitted your own wrongs? ... Are you taking responsibility for your own faults? Have you said or done things to your wife - or to God - that are wrong? Love desires to have a right relationship with both God and your wife.

Truthfulness is what it takes a willingness to really examine the struggles in your marriage and admit any wrongdoing for which you might be held responsible. Let humility reign and pride fall away - and come before the Lord in prayerful confession to Him. Then go to your wife, by telephone, email, or letter, or in person and ask for forgiveness. She should forgive you, but your responsibility does not lie with her decision. Admitting your mistakes is your responsibility. With transparency and sincerity, take this Challenge ... and let God give you grace and strength to begin the journey towards a healthier marriage.

Pray and ask God for forgiveness for falling short in specific areas in your marriage. Then ask your your for forgiveness. No matter what her reaction is, accept it with understanding. And what if you honestly don't know where you've been wrong? Ask! Gently say, "How have I hurt you?" Then listen ... and begin the process of making things right before God and your wife.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8,9)

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

"Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed."
(Luke 17:12-14)

As we seek God for His miraculous intervention in our lives, whether it be in our circumstances, finances, marriage, or other need, there may be some act of obedience that God has required of us. We can be confident that as we are quick to respond in obedience, just as the lepers were, we will experience God's protection, provision, and miraculous intervention in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart, and show me if there is some response of obedience that You require of me. I don't want to allow anything to hinder Your work in and through my life. Help me be a person determined to live in the miraculous blessing of obedience.

Scripture For Today: John 4:1-42 ... The Samaritan woman in this story was forever changed when she met Christ at the well and her testimony changed the lives of others for generations to come. Ask God for an opportunity to share a portion of the testimony of His love with someone else today.