Our past can destroy our future if we let it. I believe this is even truer in marriage. When two adults come together to share their lives as one, it is the enemy’s job to try and tear their souls apart. Unfortunately, most of us have had previous relationships that weren’t of God and definitely not in agreement to His word. By His grace and mercy He gives us another chance to get it right and have an honorable covenant blessed by Him. When two come together, the enemy will use those past hurts to try to divide the relationship. I believe that God restored me after my divorce from my first husband and my past relationships. I believe that he made me whole and prepared me to be a wife according to His standards. This doesn’t mean that I am perfect or that the enemy doesn’t ever try to come in and torment me with things from my past. There are times when something may happen that triggers an old memory and the enemy will begin to speak. He will try to torment me with wounds from the past and try to convince me that similar things are happening. I have to choose to renew my mind. I can’t walk around paranoid that my marriage will end up like my past. I can’t assume that my husband is doing things just because my ex did them. I can’t let the enemy flood my thoughts with memories of pain and sin.
James 4:7(NKJV)
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
We must resist the temptation to dwell on the past. Our past is nailed to the cross and covered by the blood of Jesus!
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
[ Meditate on These Things ] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Our thoughts should be fixed on truth. They should be noble, just, pure and lovely. We have to evaluate our situations with the truth of the present. We can’t make our spouses accountable for foolishness that took place in our past. If there is a place of hurt, then it needs to be addressed. First, I suggest that we look at our hearts and understand why we are hurt so that we can clearly articulate to our spouse. They can’t read our minds and can better respond if we are completely honest. We shouldn’t sugar coat the truth, but we do need to speak with love. Our past makes us who we are by the lessons that we learn but our mistakes don’t define us. How we overcome is what sets us apart. God binds up our wounds and restores our souls. He makes all things new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)
18 “Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
We are new and our situations are new when we are in Christ. The results we had in the past will not affect our future because we are presented with unique ways of deliverance. Only God can make a road in the wilderness and a river in the desert, but we must believe Him for it. We must stop listening to the voice of the enemy that is trying to break us apart from the one God brought us together with.
Father, we thank You that You cover our past with Your blood. We are a new creation in You. Forgive us for letting our past affect our present. Show us how to evaluate our situations through Your eyes and not through our mistakes. Help us keep our thoughts stayed on You and all of Your goodness. The enemy has to flee because we submit to You and Your plans for our marriage. Help us be as one as we continue our journey through marriage. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
James 4:7(NKJV)
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
We must resist the temptation to dwell on the past. Our past is nailed to the cross and covered by the blood of Jesus!
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
[ Meditate on These Things ] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Our thoughts should be fixed on truth. They should be noble, just, pure and lovely. We have to evaluate our situations with the truth of the present. We can’t make our spouses accountable for foolishness that took place in our past. If there is a place of hurt, then it needs to be addressed. First, I suggest that we look at our hearts and understand why we are hurt so that we can clearly articulate to our spouse. They can’t read our minds and can better respond if we are completely honest. We shouldn’t sugar coat the truth, but we do need to speak with love. Our past makes us who we are by the lessons that we learn but our mistakes don’t define us. How we overcome is what sets us apart. God binds up our wounds and restores our souls. He makes all things new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)
18 “Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
We are new and our situations are new when we are in Christ. The results we had in the past will not affect our future because we are presented with unique ways of deliverance. Only God can make a road in the wilderness and a river in the desert, but we must believe Him for it. We must stop listening to the voice of the enemy that is trying to break us apart from the one God brought us together with.
Father, we thank You that You cover our past with Your blood. We are a new creation in You. Forgive us for letting our past affect our present. Show us how to evaluate our situations through Your eyes and not through our mistakes. Help us keep our thoughts stayed on You and all of Your goodness. The enemy has to flee because we submit to You and Your plans for our marriage. Help us be as one as we continue our journey through marriage. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!