This past week I had a dream . . .
In my dream, I woke up in the middle of the night to discover the side door to our Amarillo home was wide open. It appeared the wind had blown it open so I knew it must not have been locked earlier. As I attempted to shut it, there was resistance and I was having difficulty getting it to close. I realized the resistance was coming from someone standing on the other side of the door pushing back against me, trying to enter. I was holding my ground, but I could not get the door moved enough to be able to secure the lock. A man stuck his head through the doorway and his face was not far from mine. He was speaking but I do not recall his words. I was able to keep him from pushing all the way in, at least temporarily, but I knew I would not be able to hold him off indefinitely. I cried out for my husband’s help. . .
And then I woke up.
I believe this to be the interpretation of the dream:
We have an enemy that is attempting to enter our homes and it is going to take both husbands and wives to stand against the attack. A unified marriage in pursuit of God’s presence is one of the most powerful forces in His kingdom that has multigenerational impact. It takes both of us to “shut the door’ where the enemy wants to enter our home, our marriage, our families.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10
I believe God is establishing 2023 as a year to strengthen and fortify our marriages. To fortify ourselves and our children against a culture that encourages (or demands) us to live opposite of how God has instructed us to live.
How do we fortify and strengthen our marriages?
Pray together.
Serve together.
Spend time together.
Read the Word to KNOW what it says so that we can OBEY it.
Scripture tells us to love God and love others.
“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 37-40
Scripture also teaches us that the way to love God is not to just believe in Him, or have emotional affection for Him, but to OBEY Him. (Emphasis in following scriptures is mine.)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven”. Matthew 7:21
“The one who loves Me is the one who has My teaching and OBEYS it. My Father will love whoever loves Me. I will love him and will show Myself to him.” John 14:21
“He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever DOES the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:48-50
