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| Marriage Renewal God's Way The dictionary defines renew: to make like new: restore to freshness or vigor, to begin again. When renewal occurs, something that was once waning comes alive again. Renewal brings back characteristics that existed before; like beauty, energy, strength and luster. The opposite is for something to be in a state of stagnation or decline, or to be diminished from its original condition.
In the physical realm, old houses and cars in a state of decay can be restored to their original state of beauty, brilliance and functionality through a process of renewal. So can organizations, businesses and ministries. But there are two other areas in which renewal can spark even greater value: that's in our individual lives and our marriages. Perhaps you have experienced the power and potential of renewal in your life and marriage. If not, you can!
Individual lives that are in a state of stagnation and degeneration can come alive again. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul says that you can actually put off the old, and experience renewal. In fact that's what God wants for you; to "be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude] (Eph 4:22-24). Through Jesus Christ our minds and spirits can be renewed. It's meant to be more than just a one time occurence. It's something we can experience on an ongoing basis through Him...a deep sense of freshness and renewal in our lives.
And it's something He wants us to do in our marriages too. In our Marriage Renewal Retreats we've seen stagnated and even marriages that were seemingly dead, begin to blossom and come alive again, as husbands and wives experience the spiritual renewal that only an intimate encounter with Christ can bring. And when that happens, lives and marriages become fresh and re-invigorated. A new sense of love, hope, and delight re-emerges. Intimacy, commitment, and trust reappears.
Spiritual renewal and marital renewal: it's what happens to husbands and wives in every one of our marriage renewal weekend retreats. It's nothing short of incredible to see! And I believe it's why so many people who attend once, keep coming back again. Because each and every one of us needs to be renewed on an ongoing basis to keep us from becoming stagnated and stale.
So, what about your marriage? When was the last time you experienced a fresh sense of renewal of love and intimacy in your relationship with God and your mate? Is your life, your love, your marriage due for renewal? If so, then I encourage you to come join us for our upcoming Marriage Renewal Retreat. We only have a few openings left, so act quickly and let us know soon so that we can reserve your place. It may be just what you need to put your life and marriage on the road to renewal. Why do marriages fail? While the answers to that question are many and often complex, there is a growing body of research suggesting that there are four negative risk factors- four negative behavior patterns that create barriers in a marriage and increase a couple's chances for marital failure. In one key studiy, researchers followed a sample of 135 couples for twelve years, starting before they were married, and were able to differentiate those couples who do well from those who do not, with up to 91% accuracy.* Crucial to the success of any marriage is for couples to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of these four risk factors. Previously we discussed Escalation* and Invalidation. Now, let's take a look at a third one - Negative Interpretations. "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27).
God did a wonderful thing when He created man and woman so differently. The differences between man as male and woman as female were intended to usher in many special blessings (Genesis 1:28). Unfortunately, because of the fall, the blessings of the sexes became the battle between the sexes. The unique qualities with which God endowed each, now give rise to misunderstanding and conflict rather than completion and harmony.
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