As God began speaking to me regarding marriage for this issue, this scripture immediately came to mind, Philippians 4:8-10 (KJV) states,

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

This is a relevant word in regards to marriage because so many other negative influences look for cracks in the union. It is important to always emphasize placing value on every aspect within the union. The scripture deals with the thought process, if we are not thinking on the things that are of the right perspective or as the scripture states: true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, we will not have peace within ourselves. Isaiah 26:3 states, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." The wrong type of thinking will destroy your marriage. The enemy (devil) will trap you into believing a lie, "Our marriage was a mistake." "My husband/wife does not understand me." "I can't go through too much more of this." "We can always get a divorce." "I'll just leave." "He/she doesn't want me, anyway." We must always remember, our minds govern our thoughts and our thoughts govern our actions! This ultimately will cause a breakdown in the foundation of the relationship.

Many scriptures deal with the issue of having the mindset of God. We have to guard or hearts and minds and not allow emotions to control us. Philippians 4:7 states, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." We have to allow God to deal with our ways of thinking, so that we will not allow a destructive spirit to enter in. We must always be conscious of how/what we think, we must avoid observing, speaking, reading, or hearing anything that (or associating with anyone who) suggests impurity or unfaithfulness.

I pray that God will give you better insight into how you should approach your thought process to help strengthen your life, marriage and relationships.

Prophetess Mia McGee

W.A.V.E. Ministries, Inc.

www.miamcgee.org

In marriage, as well as other relationships, love is vital. And the only way to demonstrate true love is through a relationship with God, "God is Love". 1 John 4:8 states, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (KJV). The American Heritage Dictionary defines love as "an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties". Often this "intense affection" stems from a sexual attraction for that other person. We love other people, or we say we love other people, when we are attracted to them and when they make us feel good. Notice that a key phrase in the dictionary definition of love is "based on". This phrase implies that we love conditionally; in other words, we love someone because they fulfill a condition that we require before we can love them.

However, is this way how God instructs us to love or how he approaches love towards us? There are many passages in the Bible that give us God's definition of love. The most familiar verse is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". We are the ones, who choose to reject God, yet it's God who restores the separation through His intense personal sacrifice, and all we have to do is accept His gift.

Let's examine the word of God and what the scripture says about love; or, another word it is often referred to as charity:

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away" (1Corinthians 13:4-8)

God is speaking to marriages and relationships as a whole. We must examine ourselves to see if we truly love the way that God has commanded us. There is no other example of love better than God. He has taught love, because He is Love! When we look at how he loves us unconditionally, despite our faults and failures, then we can better know how to love others. The dictionary and the world's definition clearly reflects that love is interpreted in a different way than that of God. We must look unto God and his definition of love, not the worlds!

I pray that God will give you a better understanding of how we should approach love; because love is amazing and needed within marriage and in relationships.