Love Dare: Day 11, “Love Cherishes”

Love Dare: Day 11, "Love Cherishes"

"Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies," (Ephesians 5:28)

Message:

Often times we put our focus of "cherish," into things that never seem to grow. We feel that we care about someone more than anything and there is nothing that we would not do for that certain person, but do we truly cherish them on an emotional and healhty level. Sometimes due to our own uncertanity of our self-esteem we tend to cherish in a way that is more geared towards an obsession. We tend to make that person into the person we want them to be. We as humans are only created with the world built around us here, but there is more. The Godly world of our living, the world we have yet to experience is a life worth cherishing. Cherishing our relationship with God is so important, because it creates within us a true meaning of the word cherish and the ability to love whole heartedly and openly.

Can you change someone? No, you can simply love someone as they are, but pray for them along the way. Can we wish someone were a different person? No, God made each of us with His gifted hands, according to His purpose. Can we hope for someone to have redirection in their life? Of course, that is what prayer and witnessing of Gods love is for.

Accepting your mate as they are is the ultimate first step in cherishing them. Saying your vows in front of a congregation and God merely set your future plans for God to see, how you live and fulfill those vows is up to you. Putting God at the center of your relationship and letting nothing be agreed upon, passed or acknowledged without his blessings ensures that you keep a Godly approach to your marriage. Trying to steer away from God and handle things on your own only leads you down a long, dirty and uncertain path that always u-turns to head back to God. Stay where you are with God no matter how trying or difficult it may be. The alternate route is a lot more trying and harsh, always causing more pain just to end up with I'm sorry.

When you were married you said to your spouse…"to love, honor, and cherish." Three words important enough to God to be involved in your unification as one before Him. Guys this means you as well, as in (1 Peter 3:7), "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

God made us as "fragile," individuals; try not to crush other spirits with bruised or harsh words. Do not disrespect another; always bear in mind the "fragile," character we all become in the midst of an argument.

Seven things weigh heavy on a marriage:

1. Be sensitve to the needs of your partner
   
2. Let your actions, as well as your words show respect
   
3. Pay attention when your spouse talks to you
   
4. Be considerate and use gentle and kind words at all times
   
5. Accept their feelings
   
6. Accept them as they are without comparing them to others
   
7. Be faithful and loyal, living up to their trust.
   

To cherish soemone is to love and honor them as much if not more than you love yourself. It is the most meaningful of the terms, in my opinion. People can love each other or care about each other without cherishign one another. If we truly cherish one another how can we have anything, but happy and everlasting marriages?

Remember that cherishing another means more than just loving more than words can say, it also means:

1. To Keep first in ones mind
   
2. To treasure another
   
3. To value deeply
   
4. To hold dear
   
5. To prize above all else
   
6. To treat with gentleness and tendercare
   
7. To esteem
   
8. To appreciate
   
9. To trust with utmost importance
   

Love your spouse just as you love yourself, believe in your spouse just as you believe in Christ and mold your future around the fact that God asked you to cherish your partner as he has cherished you. Cherish within Gods eyes, always leads to a marriage built on Gods foundation of love.

 

***DARE***

What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or a foot massage? Is their housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, "I cherish you," and do it with a smile.