In most cases I’ve witnessed, once the sinful spouse can truly come clean before the Lord and repent of their sins without being defensive, they are usually more willing to seek the forgiveness of the affected spouse. This is because sin covered births multiplied transgression.

” He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13 KJV

Again, the word Isaiah 30:1 KJV

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.”

The word ‘repent’ means to turn from your evil deed in godly sorrow (2Pet. 3:9 KJV).

The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death”. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)

Godly sorrow is not the same as condemnation. It is a place of true remorse and sadness for the pain you’ve caused. It is a place of true repentance. In the Old Testament, God says, “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” This is a true picture of godly sorrow, where you are truly convicted in your heart and fall on your face before the Lord in turning away from that sin absolutely. Until true repentance takes place, restitution cannot begin, and until restitution begins, restoration cannot flow.

The Lack of the Burning Love of Christ

THE FOUNDATION OF LOVE

The love that Christ has for His Church is the model for marital love. In 1 John 4:19, we read,

We love because he first loved us.”

When you allow the love of Christ to permeate your marriage, it becomes the source of strength, unity and victory, regardless of the enemy’s onslaught. However, when this love diminishes, the relationship can become transactional rather than transformational.

A transactional marriage is deadly. It is devoid of warmth, kindness, compassion and goodness. Each party is self-centred, and no one is looking out for the other. Therefore, there is a spiritual, emotional and physical divide.

REKINDLING THE FLAME

To combat the dangers of strife, unfaithfulness, and a lack of love, it is essential to actively cultivate your relationship.

Colossians 3:14 encourages,

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

This love is not merely an emotion. It is a choice and a commitment to prioritise your spouse’s needs above your own.

Husbands, delight in the wife of your youth and be satisfied with her. Wives, delight yourselves in your husband and reverence him in honour as the leader in your home. Together, both husband and wife seek to be an inseparable partner in your life’s inheritance as joint heirs with Christ Jesus. No one can rekindle this flame for you, but you both must.

Love one another and refuse to neglect nurturing yourself in love. Pray, seek God together, communicate in love, and nurture yourselves in love. A Covenant must be nurtured for it to flourish. So, love, nurture and abide faithfully with your spouse.

CONCLUSION

If walking in the light of Hebrews 13:4 is your goal, it is crucial to recognise the sanctity of the marriage covenant and the dangers that threaten it. Strife, unfaithfulness, and a lack of love can lead to devastating consequences not only for you and your spouse but also for everyone connected to your lives.

As you reflect on your marriage, consider how you can honour this sacred covenant. Seek to resolve conflicts with grace, remain faithful to the Lord and to your spouse, and allow the Love of Christ to guide your actions.

Remember, a strong marriage is built on a foundation of mutual respect, unwavering commitment, and the transformative love of God.

So, are you going to let your marriage be a testament to the beauty of the Covenant in Holy Matrimony you’ve entered into? Or are you going to cast a shadow on the authenticity of your Holy union, before God and the world?

Reach out to us today for your counselling needs 💕