The Love Dare 365 days, Day 317-365 (ems)

The Love Dare 365 days
Stephen and Alex Kendrick

LOVE  is GOD's  WORD

Day 317

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:105

Day 318

For some people, the Bible seems just too big to understand. But as a Christian, you're not left alone to try grasping the major themes and deep meanings of the Bible. "For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). And because of His internal lamp, the Scriptures are now yours to read, absorb, comprehend, and live by.

Day 319

Read a portion of the Bible every day. Ideally, read it together as husband and wife - in the morning, perhaps, or before bed. Be like the writer of Psalm 119, who could say, "With all my heart I have sought You. . . . Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You" (Psalm 119:10-11).

Day 320

Those who practice a consistent pattern of reading the Bible soon discover it to be "more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:10).

Day 321

The Bible can be deep and challenging. That's why it's so important to be part of a church where the Word is faithfully taught and preached. By hearing it explained in sermons and Bible study classes, you'll get a broader, more balanced view of what God is saying through His Word. You'll also get to join with others who are on the same journey you are.

Day 322

The Bible is a living book. It lives because the Holy Spirit still resonates within its words. It lives because, unlike the ancient writings of other religions, its Author is still alive.

Day 323

Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers. - James 1:22

Day 324

Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-25). When your home is founded on the rock of God's unchanging Word, it is insured against destruction.

Day 325

God has the right plan for everything, and He's revealed these plans in His Word. They're right there for anyone who will read it and apply it.

Day 326

If being a regular Bible reader is new for you, you'll be surprised how quickly you'll begin thinking differently and more eternally. And if you are serious about establishing strategies for life based on God's way of doing things, He will guide you to make connections between what you're reading and how it applies. It's an enlightening journey with discoveries to be made all the time.

Day 327

Every aspect of your life that you submit to God's principles will grow stronger and more long-lasting over time. Any part you withhold from God, choosing instead to try your own hand at it, will weaken and eventually fail when the storms of life hit you.

Day 328

Wise couples build their houses on the rock of God's Word. "Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction." (Romans 15:4)

LOVE  AGREES IN  PRAYER

Day 329

If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father. - Matthew 18:19

Day 330

If someone told you that by changing one thing about your marriage, you could guarantee with near 100 percent assurance that your life together would significantly improve, you would at least want to know what it was. And for many godly couples, that "one thing" is the daily practice of praying together.

Day 331

The unity that grows between a man and woman who regularly pray together forms an intense and powerful connection. Within the sanctuary of your marriage, praying together can work wonders on every level of your relationship.

Day 332

When you were joined together as husband and wife, God gave you a wedding gift - a permanent prayer partner for life. When you need wisdom on a certain decision, you and your prayer partner can seek God together for the answer.

Day 333

When you and your spouse are not getting along and can't get past a particular argument or sticking point, you can call a time out, drop your weapons, and go with your partner into emergency prayer. It should become your automatic reflex action when you don't know what else to do.

Day 334

It's hard to stay angry long with someone for whom you're praying. It's hard not to back down when you're hearing your mate humbly cry out to God and beg Him for mercy in the midst of your heated crisis. In prayer, two people remember that God has made them one. And in the grip of His uniting presence, disharmony blends into beauty.

Day 335

Praying for your spouse leads your heart to care more deeply about them. But more importantly, God is pleased when He sees you both humbling yourselves and seeking His face together. His blessing falls on you when you agree in prayer.

Day 336

The word Jesus used when He talked about "agreeing" in prayer has the idea of a harmonic symphony. It pulls you both back toward your real center. It places you on common ground, face-to-face before the Father. It restores harmony in the midst of contention.

Day 337

Prayer is a privilege to be enjoyed on a consistent, daily basis. When you know that prayer time awaits you before going to bed, it will change the way you spend your evening. Even if your prayers together are typically short and to the point, this will become a standing appointment that you can orbit your day around, keeping God in the middle of everything.

Day 338

In the morning my prayer comes before You.  - Psalm 88:13

LOVE  FULFILLS  DREAMS

Day 339

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

Day 340

Love sometimes needs to be extravagant. To go all out. It sometimes needs to set aside the technicalities and just bless because it wants to.

Day 341

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He's your model. He's the One your love is designed to imitate. Though you weren't a likely candidate for His love, He gave it anyway. He paid the price.

Day 342

Dreams and desires come in all shapes and sizes. But love takes careful notice of each one.

Day 343

Love calls you to listen to what your mate is saying and hoping for.

Day 344

Love calls you to remember the things that are unique to your relationship, the pleasures and enjoyments that bring a smile to the other's face.

Day 345

Love calls you to give when it would be a lot more convenient to wait.

LOVE  ENDURES

Day 346

Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:8

Day 347

Of all the things love dares to do, this is the ultimate. Though threatened, it keeps pursuing. Though challenged, it keeps moving forward. Though mistreated and rejected, it refuses to give up. Love never fails.

Day 348

Love that is from God is unending, unstoppable. If the object of its affection doesn't choose to receive it, love keeps giving anyway. Love never fails. Never.

Day 349

Of the nine "fruits of the Spirit" listed in Galatians 5, the first of all is love. And because the unchanging Holy Spirit is its source- the same Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of all believers - then the love He creates in you is unchanging as well. It is based on the will of God, the calling of God, and the Word of God - all unchanging things. The Bible declares them "irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).

Day 350

Build your marriage on the Word of God. That's because when all else fails, the truth of God will still be standing.

LOVE IS A  COVENANT

Day 351

Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  - Ruth 1:16

Day 352

The experience and challenge of loving your mate is something that never comes to an end. It goes on for the rest of your life.

Day 353

Seeing marriage as a contract is like saying to your spouse, "I take you for me and we'll see if this works out." But realizing it as a covenant changes it to say, "I give myself to you and commit to this marriage for life."

Day 354

A contract is usually a written agreement based on distrust, outlining the conditions and consequences if broken. A covenant is a verbal commitment based on trust, assuring someone that your promise is unconditional and good for life. It is spoken before God out of love for another.

Day 355

A contract is self-serving and comes with limited liability. It establishes a time frame for certain deliverables to be met and accomplished. A covenant is for the benefit of others and comes with unlimited responsibility. It has no expiration date. It is "till death do us part."

Day 356

A contract can be broken with mutual consent. A covenant is intended to be unbreakable.

Day 357

Marriage is the strongest covenant on earth between two people, the pledge of a man and woman to establish a love that is unconditional and lasts a lifetime. In marriage, your wedding ring represents your covenant vows - not merely commitments you hoped to keep but premeditated promises, publicly spoken and witnessed by others.

Day 358

There's nothing in all the world that should sever what God has joined together. Your love is based on covenant.

Day 359

Every marriage is called to be an earthly picture of God's heavenly covenant with His church. It is to reveal to the world the glory and beauty of God's unconditional love for us. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" (John 15:9 NIV). Let His words inspire you to be a channel of God's love to your spouse.

Day 360

Love is too holy a treasure to trade in for another, and too powerful a bond to be broken without dire consequences. Fasten your love afresh on this one the Lord has given you to cherish, prize, and honor. Your life together is before you. Dare to take hold of it and never let go.

Day 361

Your heart is the most important part of who you are. It is the center of your being, where the "real you" resides. "The heart of man reflects man" (Proverbs 27:19). As a person "thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7).

LEADING  YOUR  HEART

Day 362

Following your heart usually means chasing after whatever feels right at the moment whether or not it actually is right. It means throwing caution and conscience to the wind and pursuing your latest whims and desires regardless of what good logic and counsel are saying. The Bible says, "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). 

Day 363

You can give undeserved love to your spouse because God gave undeserved love to you - repeatedly, enduringly. Love is often expressed the most to those who deserve it the least.

Day 364

Because our hearts are so subject to change and so utterly untrustworthy, the Scriptures communicate a much stronger message than "follow your heart." The Bible instructs you to lead your heart. This means to take full responsibility for its condition and direction. Realize that you do have control over where your heart is. You have been given the power by God to take your heart off one thing and to set it on something else.

Day 365

Your life together is before you. Dare to take hold of it and never let go.

The Love Dare 365 days, Day 265-316 (ems)

The Love Dare 365 days, 
Stephen and Alex Kendrick 

LOVE  BRINGS  UNITY

Day 265

Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. - John 17:11

Day 266

One of the most impressive things about the Bible is the way it is linked together, with consistent themes running throughout, from beginning to end. Though written over a span of 1,600 years and composed by more than forty writers of various backgrounds and skill levels, God sovereignly authored it with one united voice. And He continues to speak through it today without ever going off-message. Unity. Togetherness. Oneness. These are the unshakable hallmarks of our God.

Day 267

Father, Son, and Spirit are in pristine unity. They serve each Other, love each Other, and honor each Other. Though equal, they rejoice when the Other is praised. Though distinct, they are One, indivisible. And because this relationship is so special - so representative of the vastness and grandeur of God - He has chosen to let us experience an aspect of it.

Day 268

In the unique relationship of husband and wife, two distinct individuals are spiritually united into "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). And "what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mark 10:9 NIV). This mystery is so compelling - and the love between husband and wife so intertwined and complete - that God uses the imagery of marriage to explain His love for the church.

Day 269

What would happen in your marriage if you devoted yourself to loving, honoring, and serving your wife in all things? What if you determined that the preservation of your oneness with this woman was worth every sacrifice and expression of love you could make? What would change in your home if you took that approach to your relationship on a daily basis?

Day 270

What would happen if you made it your mission to do everything possible to promote togetherness of heart with your husband? What if every threat to your unity was treated as a poison, a cancer, an enemy to be eliminated by love, humility, and selflessness? What would your marriage become if you were never again willing to see your oneness torn apart?

Day 271

The unity of the Trinity, as seen from beyond the reaches of history past and continuing into the future, is evidence of the power of oneness. It is unbreakable. It is unending. And it is this same spiritual reality that disguises itself as your home and mailing address. Though painted in the colors of work schedules and doctor visits and trips to the grocery, oneness is the eternal thread that runs through the daily experience of what you call "your marriage," giving it a purpose to be defended for life.

Day 272

Love this one who is as much a part of your body as you are. Serve this one whose needs cannot be separated from your own. Honor this one who, when raised upon the pedestal of your love, raises you up too in the eyes of God, all at the same time.

LOVE and MARRIAGE

Day 273

"A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24) This verse is God's original blueprint for how marriage is supposed to work. It involves a tearing away and a knitting together. It reconfigures existing relationships while establishing a brand new one.

Day 274

Unity is a marriage quality to be guarded at great cost. The purpose of "leaving," of course, is not to abandon all contact with the past but rather to preserve the unique oneness that marriage is designed to capture. Only in oneness can you become all that God means for you to be.

Day 275

With God's help, you are able to achieve oneness in your decision making, even when you begin from differing viewpoints.

Day 276

With God's help you are able to achieve oneness in your sexual affections toward each other, even if either or both of you have memories of impurity in your pre-marital past.

Day 277

God's decision to make you "one flesh" in marriage can make anything possible. 

Day 278

It's not out of character for couples of all kinds - even Christian couples - to ignore God's design for marriage, thinking they know better than He does. Genesis 2:24 may have sounded nice and noble when it was wrapped around the sharing of vows at the wedding. But as a fundamental principle to be put into place and practiced as a living fact - this just seems too difficult to do. But this is what you must make any sacrifice to reclaim.

Day 279

May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.  - John 17:21 HCSB

LOVE  MEETS  SEXUAL  NEEDS

Day 280

The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. - 1 Corinthians 7:3

Day 281

Some people think the Bible has nothing good to say about sex, as though all God seems concerned about is telling us when not to do it and who not to do it with. In reality, however, the Bible has a great deal to say about sex and the blessing it can be for both husband and wife. Even its boundaries and restrictions are God's ways of keeping our sexual experiences at a level far beyond any of those advertised on television or in the movies.

Day 282

In Christian marriage, romance is meant to thrive and flourish. After all, it was created by God. It's all part of celebrating what God has given, becoming one with our mate while simultaneously pursuing purity and holiness. He delights in us when this happens.

Day 283

The biblical foundations of marriage were originally expressed in the creation of Adam and Eve. She was made to be "a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). The unity of their relationship and physical bodies was so strong, they were said to become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). 

Day 284

Oneness is a hallmark of every marriage. In the act of romance, we join our hearts to each other in an expression of love that no other form of communication can match. That's why "the marriage bed is to be undefiled" (Hebrews 13:4). We are not to share this same experience with anyone else.

Day 285

God established marriage with a "one flesh" mentality. "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (1 Corinthians 7:4).

Day 286

You are the one person called and designated by God to meet your spouse's sexual needs.

Day 287

Love is the only way to reestablish loving union between each other. All the things the Love Dare entails - patience, kindness, selflessness, thoughtfulness, protection, honor, forgiveness - will play a role in renewing your sexual intimacy. The heart of marriage is one of giving ourselves to each other to meet the other's needs.

Day 288

When the love of Christ is the foundation of your marriage, the strength of your friendship and sexual relationship can be enjoyed at a level this world can never know.

Day 289

God set His affections on you and went to every length to draw you into desiring Him. Now it is your turn to pay the loving price to win the heart of your mate. When you do, you will enjoy the pure delight that flows when sex is done for all the right reasons. And as if that's not enough, you will also have the opportunity to "glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:20). How beautiful.

Day 290

How beautiful and how delightful you are, my love. - Song of Solomon 7:6

LOVE  COMPLETS  EACH OTHER

Day 291

If two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? - Ecclesiastes 4:11

Day 292

God creates marriage by taking a man and a woman and uniting them as one. And although love must be willing to act alone if necessary, it is always better when it is not just a solo performance.

Day 293

Love can function on its own if there is no other way, but there is a "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). And love dares not to stop loving before it gets there. This "completing" aspect of love was revealed to mankind from the beginning. God originated the human race with a male and a female - two similar but complementary designs meant to function in harmony.

Day 294

Our bodies are made for each other. Our natures and temperaments provide balance, enabling us to more effectively complete the tasks at hand. Our oneness can produce children, and our teamwork can best raise them to health and maturity. Where one is weak, the other is strong. When one needs building up, the other is equipped to enhance and encourage. We multiply one another's joys and divide one another's sorrows.

Day 295

The Scriptures say, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10). It's like your two hands, which don't just coexist together but multiply the effectiveness of the other. In order to do what they do, neither is quite complete without the other.

Day 296

Although our differences can frequently be the source of misunderstanding and conflict, they have been created by God and can be ongoing blessings if we respect them.

Day 297

God made wives to complete their husbands, and He gives them insight that in many cases is kept from their men. If this discernment is ignored, it is often to the detriment of the manmaking the decision.

Day 298

The effectiveness of your marriage is dependent upon both of you working together. Don't disqualify his or her right to voice an opinion on matters that affect both of you. Love realizes that God has put you together on purpose. And though you may wind up disagreeing with your spouse's perspectives, you should still give their views respect and strong consideration. This honors God's design for your relationship and guards the oneness He intends.

Day 299

Joined together, you are greater than your independent parts. You need each other. You complete each other. Recognize that your spouse is integral to your future success.

Day 300

Put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. - Colossians 3:14

LOVE  CELEBRATE  GODLINESS

Day 301

[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. - 1 Corinthians 13:6

Day 302

The meaning of "real life" changes dramatically when we understand that God's Word is the ultimate expression of what real life is. The teachings it contains are not just good guesses at what should matter. They are principles that reflect the way things really are, the way God created life to be. His ideals and instructions are the only pathways to real blessing, and when we see people following them in obedience to the Lord, it should cause us to rejoice.

Day 303

Love rejoices most in the things that please God. When your mate is growing in Christian character, persevering in faith, seeking purity, and embracing roles of giving and service - becoming spiritually responsible in your home - the Bible says we should be celebrating it.

Day 304

"Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness" - not in ourselves and not in our mate. Rather, love "rejoices with the truth."

Day 305

What more could we want for our wife or husband than for them to experience God's best in life? Be happy for any success your spouse enjoys. But save your heartiest congratulations for those times when they are honoring God with their worship and obedience.

Day 306

I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.  - Psalm 101:2

Day 307

Mighty sequoia trees tower hundreds of feet in the air and can withstand intense environmental pressures. One of the secrets to the strength of the mighty sequoia tree is what goes on below the surface. Unlike many trees, they reach out and interlock their roots with the sequoias around them. Each becomes empowered and reinforced by the strength of the others. The secret to the sequoia is also a key to maintaining a strong, healthy marriage.

Day 308

A couple that faces problems alone is more likely to fall apart during tough times. However, the ones who interlock their lives in a network of other strong marriages radically increase their chances of surviving the fiercest of storms.

Day 309

It is crucial that a husband and wife pursue godly advice, healthy friendships, and experienced mentors. Everyone needs wise counsel throughout life. Wise people constantly seek it and gladly receive it. Fools never ask for it and then ignore it when it's given to them.

Day 310

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel" (Proverbs 12:15). Gaining wise counsel is like having a detailed road map and a personal guide while traveling on a long, challenging journey. It can be the difference between continual success or the destruction of another marriage. It is vital that you invite strong couples to share the wisdom they have gained through their own successes and failures.

Day 311

Wisdom is more valuable than gold. Not receiving it is like letting priceless coins pass through your fingers.

Day 312

Good marriage mentors warn you before you make a bad decision. They encourage you when you are ready to give up. And they cheer you on as you reach new levels of intimacy in your marriage. Do you have someone in your life who shoots straight with you?

Day 313

The Bible says, "Encourage one another day after day . . . so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).

Day 314

Here's an important reminder from Scripture: "Each one of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). This appointment is unbreakable. And though we're all ultimately responsible for the way we approach it, we can surely stand as much help as others can give. It might just be the relational influence that takes your marriage from mediocre to amazing.

Day 315

In abundance of counselors there is victory. - Proverbs 11:14

LOVE  is ACCOUNTABLE 

Day 316

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. - Proverbs 15:22 NIV

The Love Dare 365 days, Day 155-209 (ems)

The Love Dare 365 days
Stephen and Alex Kendrick

LOVE  SEEKS TO  UNDERSTAND

Day 155

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. - Proverbs 3:13

Day 156

It's fine to have outside interests and to be knowledgeable about certain things. But this is where love would ask the question, "How much do you know about your mate?"

Day 157

Think back to the days when you were courting. Didn't you study the one your heart was yearning for?

Day 158

Consider the following perspective: if the amount you studied your spouse before marriage were equal to a high school diploma, then you should continue to learn about your mate until you gain a "college degree," a "master's degree," and ultimately a "doctorate degree." Think of it as a lifelong journey that draws your heart ever closer to your mate.

Day 159

Each nuance in your spouse's character has a back story. Each element of who he is, how he thinks, and what he's like is couched in a set of guiding principles, which often makes sense only to the person who holds them. But it's worth the time it will take to study why they are the way they are.

Day 160

If you miss the level of intimacy you once shared with your spouse, one of the best ways to unlock their heart again is by making a commitment to know them. Study them. Read them like a book you're trying to understand.

Day 161

The Bible says, "The ear of the wise seeks knowledge" (Proverbs 18:15). Love takes the initiative to begin conversations. In order to get your mate to open up, they need to know that your desire for understanding them is real and genuine.

Day 162

"Wise men store up knowledge, but with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand" (Proverbs 10:14). The goal of understanding your mate is to hear them, not to tell them what you think. Even if your spouse is not very talkative, love calls you to draw out the "deep water" that dwells within them (Proverbs 20:5).

Day 163

"The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). Things like gender differences, family backgrounds, and varied life experiences can cloud your ability to know your mate's heart and motivations. But God is a giver of wisdom. The Lord will show you what you need in order to know how to love your spouse better.

Day 164

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. - Proverbs 24:3-4

Day 165

There is a depth of beauty and meaning inside your wife or husband that will amaze you as you discover more of it. Enter the mystery with expectation and enthusiasm.

Day 166

Desire to know this person even better than you do now. Make him or her your chosen field of study, and you will fill your home with the kind of riches only love can provide. "Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7).

LOVE Is IMPOSSIBLE

Day 167

You cannot manufacture unconditional love out of your own heart. It's impossible. It's beyond your capabilities. It's beyond all our capabilities. It's something only God can do.

Day 168

We've all fallen short of God's commands (Romans 3:23). We've all demonstrated selfishness, hatred, and pride. And unless something is done to cleanse us of these ungodly attributes, we will stand before God guilty as charged (Romans 6:23). That's why if you're not right with God, you can't truly love your spouse because He is the Source of that love.

Day 169

Love that is able to withstand every pressure is out of your reach, as long as you're only looking within yourself to find it. You need someone who can give you that kind of love. "Love is from God" (1 John 4:7). And only those who have allowed Him into their heart through faith in His Son, Jesus - only those who have received the Spirit of Christ through belief in His death and resurrection - are able to tap into love's real power. "Apart from me," Jesus said, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Day 170

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7

Day 171

When you surrender yourself to Christ, His power can work through you. Even at your very best, you are not able to live up to God's standards. But He "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20). That's how you love your spouse.

Day 172

You can't live without God and you can't love without Him. But there is no telling what He could do in your marriage if you put your trust in Him.

Day 173

This is impossible, but with God all things are possible. - Matthew 19:26

LOVE is JESUS  CHRIST

Day 174

Jesus has come "to seek and to save" you (Luke 19:10). Everything you've failed at and haven't been able to do, every minute you've wasted trying to fix things your own way - all of it can be forgiven and made right by putting your life into the hands of the One who first gave it to you.

Day 175

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). By His death, He made invalid the very idea that you are unloved and devalued. If you ever feel that way, you're not looking at the cross. He proved His love for you there.

Day 176

God was willing to love you even though you didn't deserve it, even when you didn't love back. This means you now share this same love with your spouse. You can love even when you're not loved in return. You can see all their flaws and imperfections and still choose to love. And though you can't meet their needs the way God can, you can become His instrument to meet the needs of your spouse. As result, he or she can walk in the fullness and blessing of your love. Now and till death.

Day 177

True love is found in Christ alone. And after you have received His gift of new life by accepting His death in your place and His forgiveness for your sins, you are finally ready to live the dare.

LOVE is STATISFIED IN GOD

Day 178

The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire.  - Isaiah 58:11

Day 179

Every day you place expectations on your spouse. Sometimes they meet them. Sometimes they don't. But never will they be able to totally satisfy all the demands you ask of them - partly because some of your demands are unreasonable, partly because your mate is human.

Day 180

Those who approach God in utter dependence each day for the real needs in their life are the ones who find out just how dependable He is. Can your spouse give you an inner peace? No. But God can. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Day 181

In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled. . . . I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:12-13

Day 182

There are needs in your life only God can fully satisfy. Stop expecting somebody or something to keep you functioning and fulfilled on a non-stop basis. Only God can do that as you learn to depend on Him. But He wants to do it His way. "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Day 183

The needs of love, peace, and adequacy are real. No one is saying you shouldn't have them. But rather than plugging into things that are unstable at best and are subject to change - your health, your money, even the affections and best intentions of your mate - plug into God instead. He's the only One in your life that can never change. His faithfulness, His truth, and His promises to His children will always remain. That's why you need to seek Him every day.

Day 184

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). When we are seeking Him first, loving Him first, making our relationship with Him top priority, He promises to supply us with what we really need - which, actually, is all it really takes to satisfy us.

Day 185

God is your everyday supply Of everything you need.

Day 186

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. - Psalm 145:16

LOVE  is FAITHFUL

Day 187

As Christians, love is the basis of our whole identity. Our spiritual rebirth came about because "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). 

Day 188

When asked to clarify what the greatest commandments of all were, Jesus answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . your soul . . . your strength . . . your mind . . . and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27).

Day 189

Our love for each other is supposed to be how people distinguish us as Christ's disciples (John 13:35). It is the root and ground of our existence (Ephesians 3:17), meant to be expressed with passion and fervency (1 Peter 4:8). It is a quality that we are to "abound" in more and more (1 Thessalonians 3:12), always getting better at it, becoming increasingly defined by it.

Day 190

God showers His favor on us without measure, though in return we often don't pay attention. At times we have acted shamefully and deemed His love an intrusion, as if it's keeping us from what we really want. We have rejected Him in many ways - even after receiving His gift of eternal salvation - and yet He still loves us. He still remains faithful.

Day 191

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). In Him we have the model of what rejected love does. It stays faithful.

Day 192

Jesus called us to this kind of love in the passage known as the Sermon on the Mount. He said to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).

Day 193

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. - Luke 6:32-33

Day 194

Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. - Luke 6:35

Day 195

If love is to be like God's, it must love even when its overtures are returned unwanted. And for your love to be like that, it must be His love to begin with.

Day 196

You can give undeserved love to your spouse because God gave undeserved love to you - repeatedly, enduringly. Love is often expressed the most to those who deserve it the least. Ask Him to fill you with the kind of love only He can provide, then purpose to give it to your mate in a way that reflects your gratefulness to God for loving you. That's the beauty of redeeming love. That's the power of faithfulness.

Day 197

Love is a choice, not a feeling. It is an initiated action, not a knee-jerk reaction. Choose today to be committed to love even if your spouse has lost most of their interest in receiving it.

Day 198

I have chosen the faithful way. - Psalm 119:30

LOVE  ALWAYS  PROTECS

Day 199

[Love] always protects. - 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV

Day 200

Marriage is made up of many things, including joys, sorrows, successes, and failures. But when you think about what you want marriage to be like, the furthest thing from your mind is a battleground. However, there are some battles you should be more than willing to fight. These are battles that pertain to protecting your spouse.

Day 201

Unfortunately your marriage has enemies out there. They come in different forms and use different strategies, but nonetheless they will conspire to destroy your relationship unless you know how to ward them off.

Day 202

You must sometimes wage a battle to protect your marriage from outside threats. Love must sometimes put on its armor and pick up a sword to protect its own.

Day 203

Are you allowing certain habits to poison your home? The Internet and television can be productive and enjoyable additions to your life, but they can also bring in destructive content and drain away precious hours from your family. The same thing goes for work schedules that keep you separated from each other for unhealthy amounts of time.

Day 204

Not everyone has the material to be a good friend. Not every man you hunt and fish with speaks wisely when it comes to matters of marriage. Not every woman in your lunch group has a good perspective on commitment and priorities. In fact, anyone who undermines your marriage does not deserve to be given the title of "friend".

Day 205

Everyone deals with some level of inferiority and weakness. And because marriage has a way of exposing it all to you and your mate, you need to protect your wife or husband's vulnerability by never speaking negatively about them in public.

Day 206

Watch out for parasites. A parasite is anything that latches onto you or your partner and sucks the life out of your marriage. They're usually in the form of addictions, like gambling, drugs, or pornography. They promise pleasure but grow like a disease and consume more and more of your thoughts, time, and money. They steal away your loyalty and heart from those you love.

Day 207

Marriages rarely survive if parasites are present. If you love your spouse, you must destroy any addiction that has your heart. If you don't, it will destroy you.

Day 208

Wives - you have a role as protector in your marriage. You must guard your heart from being led away through novels, magazines, and other forms of entertainment that blur your perception of reality and put unfair expectations on your husband. Instead you must do your part in helping him feel strong, while also avoiding talk-show thinking that can lure your attention away from your family. "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands" (Proverbs 14:1).

Day 209

Men - you are the head of your home. You are the one responsible before God for guarding the gate and standing your ground against anything that would threaten your wife or marriage. This is no small assignment. It requires a heart of courage and a head for preemptive action. Jesus said, "If the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into" (Matthew 24:43). This role is yours. Take it seriously.