Spiritual Resilience: Finding Hope and Strength in the Midst of Marital Crisis by Dr. Treal RavenelSample

Day 2: Recognizing the Enemy's Tactics in Marriage

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11 - "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

The enemy frequently uses mental and emotional attacks to try to sow discord. In an attempt to destroy the harmony and love between spouses, he sows the seeds of mistrust, anxiety, and uncertainty. Although you can limit the effects of his power, he can still manage to have some degree of control over your thoughts and mind if you allow him to. Since Satan, is not omnipresent, he cannot be in two places at once doing two different things. He has an army of workers doing his bidding for him, and their job is to drain us emotionally and mentally. You have to be able to spot his plots, approaches, and methods since everything he does is aimed at ruining your marriage and eventually you. He has no interest in your marriage becoming better or restoring. The fall of man, which is described in Genesis 3, had a direct impact on marriages. The disobedience of Adam and Eve brought sin and its effects into the world and marriage.

Here are three ways you can recognize the enemy in your marriage which are direct effects of the fall of man:

1. Selfishness and Blame: Following Adam and Eve's fall, they both placed the blame for their deeds on one another. Blame-shifting and selfishness can undermine harmony and trust between you and your spouse. In addition, it can cause you both to experience problems with pride, self-centeredness, and an unwillingness to accept accountability.

2. Brokenness and Conflict: The fall brought brokenness into the world, which exacerbated marital problems and other interpersonal problems. Because we are fallible, miscommunications, arguments, and confrontations will arise in your marriage.

3. Lack of Intimacy and Connection: This disunity inside a marriage can show itself as communication problems, emotional distancing, and a lack of spiritual connection.

Even though these things may be present, you can use the power through God's Holy Spirit to mitigate their negative effects on your marriage and adopt proactive measures to fortify your union by consistently doing the following:

1. Seek God First: You and your spouse can discover the power, direction, and knowledge through God's word, through prayer, and through wise counsel on how to deal with and manage the effects of marital challenges. Making God your first priority is key!

2. Practice Forgiveness: You can foster a spirit of forgiveness in your marriage, just as God extends forgiveness to us daily. This will require you to let go of the past, find reconciliation, and forgive one another.

3. Cultivate Love and Selflessness: You can combat selfishness by modeling selflessness and selfless love. Your marriage can become more harmonious and united if you prioritize each other’s wants and needs over your own when it is fitting to do so.

4. Communication and Transparency: Overcoming the obstacles caused by the fall requires open, honest, and transparent communication. You can make every effort to be kind, speak clearly and concisely, listen intently to comprehend not to respond, and discuss problems openly and honestly with your spouse.

5. Create or Rebuild a Strong Foundation: You can create or in some cases rebuild a strong foundation that can endure the difficulties you are facing. You can do this by establishing your marriage on a basis of shared values, dedication, love, respect, trust, and most importantly the word of God.

Devotional Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt the enemy trying to sow discord in your marriage. How did you respond? Pray for discernment to see through the enemy's tactics and for strength to stand united with your spouse against his schemes.