But why should I forgive him? I'm not a priority.

 My husband and I celebrated ten years of marriage last month.  It was bittersweet for me.  I was very happy to celebrate another wonderful year married to my best friend and soul mate.  I was saddened when I thought about how fast the ten years went by and how fast a decade can go by.  I want to share my life with him forever!  He's my favorite person in the whole world!  When he walks into a room I still get butterflies.  When I hear his voice unexpectedly my heart skips a beat.  His smile brings joy to my life.  There's nothing better than being in love with the one you know God has designed for you.   

The idea of how short our Earthly lives are compared to our Eternal lives really hit me hard.  I never took the time to think about it before.  Growing up you think you have forever to do all the things you want to do and everyone that's above 30 is old...  Sidenote:  I just turned 30 in February.  (LITERALLY LAUGHING OUT LOUD!)  Now, 30 doesn't look so old... By no means am I saying God won't give you all the Earthly days you need to fulfill His purpose and calling for your life because He will.  I'm saying that everyday is a gift and treasure full of opportunities.  Live every single second of every single day as full of life as possible. 

Life's distractions and circumstances can consume our thinking and take our focus off of the all consuming flame - God.  The flame that keeps the air in our lungs, the strength in our steps, provision in our house and love in our hearts.  If I couldn't live with God in my everyday routines and to-do's I would have called it quits a long time ago.  He is what makes my life worth while.  His wisdom, help and guidance is what gives me the ability to make the right decisions that will not only effect my future by my kids and their kids.  That's a lot of responsibility and I'm so thankful He has given me stewardship over it. 

Throughout this walk of life here on Earth there are and have been plenty of opportunities to forgive or allow unforgiveness to take root in our hearts.  In marriage, this is one area that's ok to be selfish.  Unforgiveness can effect your health and prayer life.  It's very important to always forgive your spouse.  When you forgive them, you are showing God that your relationship with Him is a priority and then your love for your spouse is next.  God gave His son to forgive us of our wrong doings.  I mean what bigger example of forgiveness is God the Father trying to get over to the Earth.  Really stop and think about that......pause from reading this for a minute or two and meditate on this example.....  

It's never too late to say you're sorry.  The moment you allow pride to come in and cause you to stay angry with your spouse you are losing precious time that you will never get back.  You are voluntarily allowing the enemy to steal your time, emotions and forgiveness.  Yes, I said voluntarily.  To voluntarily give someone something you are being very unselfish and generous.  Sacrificing something that is special to you for the benefit of someone else.  This is a good thing when it's reaching or ministering to others in need but the enemy is not in need of your time, emotions or forgiveness.  DO NOT VOLUNTARILY GIVE HIM ANYTHING.  Start today and change the way you look at forgiveness.  Those moments of disagreement during a pety, small arguement is not worth volunteering your forgiveness to the enemy instead of your spouse.  Be selfish.  Keep forgiveness for your loved ones and others.  The enemy doesn't need your forgiveness to use as a weapon to divide your marriage.  He has plenty of other tactics that are worn out but intentionally enjoys using the same ones due to lack of intelligence. 

"But why should I forgive him?  I'm not a priority to him.  He puts his work before me."
"She's always nagging.  I work really hard and she's never appreciative."  When you're not filling the love tank of your spouse, it's easy to feel like you're being taken advantage of.  Make sure you are constantly filling your spouse's love tank.  There are five love languages: physical touch, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service and quality time.  My top love language is quality time and my husband's is words of affirmation.  If I don't receive some one on one time with him I can feel deprived.  If he doesn't receive some encouraging words from me showing my appreciation for all his hard work, he can quickly feel taken advantage of.  Things do get busy around our house just like some of you reading but that gives me no excuse to not take a moment to acknowledge his hard work and relay that through my words.  Do not let a simple encouraging word or a few minutes of time spent with your spouse cause a miscommunication leading to a larger blow out.  This is easily prevented when you pay attention to and meet the needs of your spouse. 

Your health deserves to be nurtured with forgiveness.  Forgiveness is like food through an umbilical cord to an unborn baby.  It's vital to thriving in this Earthly life.  God sent His son to Earth to bring life through forgiveness.  It's no different for us.  The enemy knows that disagreement is a way to start division in any family or relationship.  The smarter we are about this topic the quicker we can use our knowledge to keep the enemy out of our relationships.  Forgiveness gives disagreement the boot in any relationship followed by effective communication.  When you forgive, God can forgive you and hear your prayers.  Sometimes physical problems come down to unforgiveness in the person's heart.  Again this is voluntarily allowing the sickness to take root in your body through unforgiveness.  Recognize the symptoms of unforgiveness before the symptoms become physical. 

Choose to forgive. 
Choose to live a healthy life. 
Choose to have a long fulfilling marriage. 
 
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  Mark 11:25
 

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