It’s so easy to let the troubles that keep invading our lives these days consume our attention and focus. If and when we do that, we make ourselves vulnerable in more ways than what simply washing our hands or wearing a mask can prevent. 😉

I say this full knowing you or a loved one might be facing the battle for your/their life. #Coronavirus #pandemic

Please hear me! I’m not trying to make light of that kind of situation AT ALL! It’s horrible and scary. But it’s not the most important thing, especially in this moment of crisis, as wild as that might seem.

I guess this pandemic has me thinking about what matters most in life. After all, I spend an awful lot of time here at Messy Marriage talking about marriage, as well as offering marriage resources and tools so you can better deal with the messes of life and marriage.

But the truth is, none of those things really matter, if you haven’t settled on the one thing that matters the most!

Your relationship with Christ!

After all, what difference does it make if your marriage makes it, but your life and relationship with God aren’t settled?

Will you stand before the Lord’s throne one day and say, “Lord, let me in because I worked hard on my marriage, improving it with the best communication skills!”

If that’s what you say, I think God’s reply will very quickly put you in your place …

“But what did you do with my Son? You know, the One who gave His life for you so that you could live?”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  —John 3:16-17

If you’re a Christ-follower who’s struggling in your marriage, the most important and powerful thing you can do right now is to make Christ the Lord of your life, if you haven’t already. That simply means setting aside your own efforts and agenda daily to rely fully on Christ’s resurrection power to bring healing to your heart and marriage!

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.  —Ephesians 1:18-20

There’s resurrection power in making Christ Lord of your …

• Marriage and relationship conflicts by yielding to Him and His ways in heat of the moment and beyond.
• Unmet longings, by letting Him—your One true Love—fill up in your heart what your spouse cannot begin to do.
• Fear of abandonment by surrendering it at the feet of the Savior who never leaves nor abandons you (Isaiah 54:5-6)!
• Unchanging and discouraging marriage and/or life situations, by letting God transform “you” in of your circumstances.

And if you’ve never received Christ’s gift of forgiveness and salvation, then consider making that commitment on this most momentous day and time—Easter! Christ’s gift is just waiting for you to receive it!

Once you receive and open His gift, death, and sin will no longer hold you captive. But Jesus doesn’t stop there! He tops the best gift ever—His forgiveness and gift of eternal life—with His rich and abundant grace in the day-to-day.

Lord Jesus, give me more grace and goodness, please! For I am in desperate need! Can I get an “amen”?

I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.           —John 10:10b

Don’t forget . . . as a Christ-follower, His resurrection power is always available to you! It’s just not utilized until you look to and rely on Him as your Lord at every turn!  This is something I aim to do every moment of every day. It takes intentionality and a surrendering of my life for His.

Won’t you join me in pursuing the One who brings ultimate peace and healing? 

Click my Know God page and read all about receiving Christ’s gift. Then get busy praying and surrendering your life to Christ! 

If you’re a believer: what has making Christ your Lord done for your life and marriage?

If you’re not a believer: what hinders you from making that commitment?