Protect – Day 23 of the Love Dare

Protect – Day 23 of The Love Dare.  Today’s dare is about removing everything that may be hindering your relationship and turning your heart away from your spouse.

Day 23 – Love Always Protects

[Love] always protects ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7

THE DARE – Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influences that are stealing your affections and are turning your heart away from your spouse.

Many things could destroy our relationship unless our love puts on an armor and picks up a sword to protect its owner. Here are just a few the potential attacks you need to be aware of and engaged in, constantly protecting your mate and your marriage. Responsibility, not passivity, is the key to guarding against the following issues:

BE AWARE OF THESE POTENTIAL ATTACKS THAT YOU MAY BE ENGAGING IN

Misplaced priorities. Anything good has the potential to become a harmful thing if it becomes an all-consuming thing. Friends, hobbies, and work schedules must be kept in balance and in their proper place. Children should be raised on the foundation of your strong marriage, and should see their mom and dad demonstrate unconditional love for each other, keep their commitments, work out their differences, forgive and preserve a legacy of endurance.

Unhealthy relationships. Not everyone has the material to be a good friend. Anyone who undermines your marriage does not deserve the right to whisper in your ear.

Harmful influences. Are you allowing certain habits to poison your home? Technology, television, and the Internet can drain only precious, countless hours from your family. Be careful and cautious of anything that could deaden your mind or steal your time.

Sexual temptations. Be on guard at all times from allowing opposite sex relationships – at work, at the gym, even in church – to draw you emotionally away from the one you’ve already given your heart to. Any relationship that is drawing your affection away from your spouse has already gone too far.

Shame. Everyone deals with some level of inferiority and weakness. You need to protect your wife or husbands vulnerability by never speaking negatively about them in public. Their secrets are your secrets. Love hides the faults of others, it covers their shame.

Parasites. A parasite is anything that latches onto you or your partner and sucks the life out of your marriage. Usually in the form of addiction – like gambling, drugs, or pornography. They steal away your loyalty and hurt from those you love.

WIVES AND HUSBANDS SHOULD HEED THE FOLLOWING 

So as a wife, realize you have a role as protector in your marriage. Guard your heart from things that blur your perception of reality and put unfair expectations and your husband. Do your part in helping him feel strong, while avoiding things that lures 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

And husbands, 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 and marriage. This is no small assignment. It requires a heart of courage and a head for preemptive action.