FOSTERING LOVE IN MARRIAGE.

In recent years, one of the most recurring cases in counseling I've dealt with is distressed marriages or relationship issues.

It baffles me to see those who once professed to love each other deeply turn enemies even to the point of cursing each other.

Also, I don't want to believe that some of those marriages weren't meant to be. For some, I knew they made the right choice but refused to run their marriages biblically.

You can buy a good car but run it down by refusing to service the engine appropriately.

Same applies to marriage. You can marry right and still mess it up by refusing to run your marriage biblically.

I am not one who believes all troubled marriages were never meant to be in the first place or be dissolved. That people fail to work things out God's way doesn't mean they're on the wrong journey.

If husbands and wives decide to run their marriages biblically, most of the marital crisis we have today will be non-existent.

That's why I believe we( single&married) need more of bible studies than marriage seminars and conferences. If we know& practice what the word says, we'll experience peace in all areas of our lives.

What does God's word say about fostering love in marriage?

Proverbs 17:9 says, "Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends".

The biblical secret to fostering love is to forgive or overlook offenses and not repeat the matter again. Simple!

The bible didn't say you will never offend each other. The context of that scripture shows that something that may cause or bring offense between you both may arise but as long as you both decide to forgive or overlook offenses without making references to it, your love will remain strong.

Sometimes in counseling, I've heard some couples who kept hammering on somethings their spouse did in years or decades past.

They refused to overlook it and the matter has grown to become a stronghold in their hearts.

At any given time, they burst out and vent their anger on their spouses because of issues in the past.

Those who don't know how to forgive or let go are not fit to marry. Love will be a thing of the past If you fail to overlook offenses or fond of repeating a matter that should have been forgotten.

The easiest way to kill love is to focus on the imperfections of your spouse. In the early days of your love life, your focus were on the good attributes. That's why you were in love.

If you're beginning to see another man or woman because you think love no longer exist in your marriage, repent now. That emotional gap you created is your fault not your spouse's fault.

It only appears you're in love with the other man or woman because your focus is on his/her good sides. You may discover worse things about him/her later.

Why not make your marriage work by doing what the bible says? Forgive and overlook offenses. Never repeat a matter again.