Better Than Blended DevotionalSample

Better Than Mended

All of us have places of pain in our lives that hinder our moving forward as healthy individuals and members of our families. Today we want to begin to open up those places, seek God intensely about them, and begin healing so that we can thrive within our families as God intended. Before we can move forward in our journey to have a family that is Better Than Blended, we must identify any weight that we are carrying that is affecting our relationship with our spouse, children, stepchildren, or other family members and that may be hindering us from fully embracing our blended family.

In Genesis 27:40, Esau’s father told him, “You will live by your sword." For Esau, his sword was the hurt from his brother, Jacob, stealing the blessing that was rightfully his as the oldest brother. His father was telling him that he would choose to carry it with him. We all carry a “sword” of some kind. Often this is something from our past, or it could be something that has happened within our blended family. The problem is, we live by the very thing that holds us captive.

The swords that we hold onto within our marriage affect our actions and interactions with our spouse. They determine how we love, engage, and accept things within our lives. Unknowingly or knowingly, we filter things through the lenses of our pain. Although our swords may represent something from the past, they can become a strong part of our present and, if left unattended, will creep into our future.

Remember, our swords shape our view of life, of family, and, more than we know, of Christ.

Think about it!

What hurtful mind-sets are you holding onto from your childhood, past relationships, or present relationships that are hindering you and your family?