How Much of Your Marriage Do You Want God to Change

Sharon JaynesMarriage 28 Comments

My devotions will focus on marriage for the month of February. If you’re not married, I encourage you to read them anyway! This particular one applies to all areas of your life. Also, consider giving a special blessing by passing these devotions along to a married friend! Here we go…)

 


“Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim,” (John 2:7 NIV). 

Shortly after Jesus was baptized, he attended a wedding reception in the town of Cana, in Galilee. Apparently Jesus felt very comfortable at such a party, and I imagine Him laughing, mingling, and having a good time with His friends.

After a few days, Jesus’ mother, Mary, noticed the host was running low on wine. To run out of wine at a seven day Jewish wedding celebration was an embarrassment and disgrace to the hosting family. Mary turned to her Son and said, “They have no more wine,” as if she expected Him to do something about it (John 2:3 NIV).   I can almost see her raised eyebrow and the mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Jesus said, “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.”

Mary turned to the servants and said, “Do what ever He tells you.” Mary seemed to understand Jesus’ power before anyone else.

Jesus told the servants to fill six large thirty gallon stone pots with water. So they filled them “to the brim.” Then He told them to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.

When they did so, the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.  He then called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

I often wonder what would have happened if the servants had filled the stone water jars half full or three fourths full.  I imagine Jesus would have transformed exactly what they put in. Likewise, God will transform just as much of our lives as we give Him. As for me, I want to “fill it to the brim,” give Him all of my life – every bit of it.

It is the same with my marriage. I want to give Jesus all of my marriage…to the brim. So in our winter years, my husband and I will agree…we have saved the best till now.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, I pray that I will be like the servants who did exactly what you told them to do. My desire is to obey you fully…to the brim. Help me not to hold back anything, but give You all of me so that You can transform all of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What do you Think? 

How much of your life do you want Jesus to transform? How much of your life have you given Him?

How much of your marriage do you want Jesus to transform?  How much of your marriage have you given Him?

How much of your attitude do you want Jesus to transform?  How much of your attitude have you given Him?

How much of your __________ do you want Jesus to transform? (You fill in the blank.) How much have you given Him?

Click over to my blog page and tell me what you put in the blank.

Want More?

14-Day Romancing Your Husband Challenge: How would you like to join your girlfriends in a 14-day Romancing Your Husband Challenge? Click over to www.localhost/sjold, click on the challenge sign-up button on the right column of the home page, and your 14-day challenge emails will begin. There are only THREE more days, to sign up, and then the challenge is gone until next year. Come on girlfriend, February is the love month – it’s time to spice up your marriage.

Today’s devotion was taken from Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities Every Man Longs For.  If there is one area of our lives that we need to give totally to Christ, it is our marriage. Perhaps that’s why Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding. If you’d like to learn more, click over to the book and take a look inside.

 

 

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Comments 28

  1. My time in god presence I want god transform , spend more time with him ..let behind all the thing that make me far from his presence. Hi and a lot of blessing from Puerto Rico..

  2. I put “Heart” in the blank. I want all of my heart to be transformed to be like Jesus. If my heart is right, then my actions will be right. Thank you so much for this devotional. I needed this today! May God’s blessings continue to flow to you and your ministry.

  3. Dear Sharon, You ask to fill in the blank. “Every beat of my heart”, Was the only impression that came and I believe He had given me a willingness to do just that ever since I asked Him to prove Himself to me almost fifty years ago as a frightened young man to be shiped overseas by the USAF, Although not realizing it at the time, but as my life unfolded He surely and steadfastly and gently and lovingly revealed His presence in my life and when the “little Drummer boy ” song was popular He positively spoke to me and the phrase; With every beat of my heart for you Lord, first appeared to me and subsequently without going into much detail I am where I am in Him. Two song recently revealed to me to some extent portrait my heart for Him. They are from the Methodist Hymns and Psalms song book here in England. First line; “one who is all unfit to count”. 7th stanza, “If there is aught of worth in me It comes from thee alone; , That more or less sums up my heart for my Lord and the other is ,First line; “O THE bitter shame and sorrow”, ALL of self, and none of thee! , and last stanza,” Higher than the highest heaven,” ; “None of self and all of thee!”. These seems to portrait the basis for the praise of gratitude and Love that come from my heart which is expressed in many of the Hymns and Psalms song book that I have here. <3 When reading this devotional all I could see was Jesus with the pots for purifying of the Jews filled to the brim I see His completeness in suffering for us paying the full price extending throughout the six thousand years of human history and Himself being our new wine as drink of Him and filled with His Spirit And the filling with water as the Holy Spirit orchestration and conducting abilities to bring us to Himself. There is so much more to find. Pr.25:2. <3 God Bless you all. Num. 6:24-26. <3

  4. I put my marriage and my day to day life. I just seem to make the same mistakes. I’ve given my life and marriage to Jesus. BUT I have resistance from my husband and old pain. I trust in my Lord to make me whole and life with as if I have his pure heart.
    I know I sound poetic sorry can’t help it, I’m in the middle of writing a few more poems.

  5. …family… I have been praying for God to make our family more like Him. Thank you for stepping on my toes and reminding me that He will transform only as much as we give Him.

    And I can’t wait to start romancing my husband! 😉

  6. You mentioned people not liking your focus on marriage in Feb. I must admit my first thought was that I would rather hear about another subject, thinking this subject would be more for the much younger group. But I did read each day’s segment and found it helpful. Your point that this is not about me made me realize that is what I was doing and I thank you for that. We are to praise God wherever we are in life and listen to His word.

    Thank You,
    Jean

  7. Dear Sharon,

    Thank you for your many devotions you share with us. No matter how young or old we may be we seem to always need to be reminded that it is not about ME. Thank you for your honesty and sharing your heart. I daily look forward to the devotions shared on Girlfriends in God. Have a blessed day and keep up the good work.
    Blessings
    Mavis

  8. Sharon, I put TIME in the blank. I spend so much time on my computer doing web searches, playing games, YES I said playing games, and so little time for Jesus. Oh, I read the Bible and Bible devotions but I don’t pray as I should and I don’t spend nearly enough time in His Word. I am going to take one day at a time and starting right now, I am going to devote time for God each weekday morning after the grand kids go off to school. We are raising two of them. It is a challenge to get by in the morning without shouting and bickering from them and sometimes myself. I do so want God to change my heart and help me be the spiritual grandmother they so need. I am committing to that today.

  9. I just wanted to let you know that this was my favorite of the marriage devotions so far. The connection of filling the jars to the brim and how you related it to giving ALL of our marriage to God spoke volumes to me. Especially the last part where you said “So in our winter years, my husband and I will agree…we have saved the best till now.” What a great goal for marriage! Thank you for doing this series!

  10. YES! I want God to transform ALL of my marriage and I know it begins with me totally..humbly submmting to the Lord and my husband, on a consistent basis.Im willing to trust God fully….yet I need your prayers as I will also pray for my sisters with the same desire.
    Blessings to you all!

  11. Dear All,

    I am currently an unmarried woman, I have a painful history of broken relationships. I previously became bitter and oftentimes resentful upon hearing about marriage because of those reasons.

    I realized recently, amidst an extremely painful situation that my personal relationship with God needed a substantial amount of development and until I focused on my relationship with our God, how could I possibly be the mate that God would have me to be!

    Thanks be to God Almighty that my mind is renewed through HIM, and I now anticipate a christ-filled, loving, and successful marriage! Now, I don’t know with whom, when, where! I feel strongly that God knows the desires of my heart and if He, ordains this future union then let it be so!

    Ladies, married/unmarried Put God First! Everything, I mean everything comes together when you live this practice!

    I trust the plans that God has for me!

  12. grateful for each and every day of my life for my family. Really want to stay focus and keep the lord in my daily life n want to learn how to serve him better. this is my first bible study ever. Just want to learn more.

  13. Today’s task from the Girlfriends was to make a list of the thanks that I am thankful for. Well there’s not enough room to make my list, so I’ll share a few of the things that I am most grateful to GOD for. I am most grateful that GOD loves me and has loved me even when I didn’t love myself; I am grateful that GOD has never given up on me even when I’ve given up on myself; I am grateful that I am reconnected with HIS love and living in his glory; I am thankful for the years the LORD let me have my parents before calling them home to him; I am thankful for a good solid husband and wonderful adult kids and fantastic grandkids; I am so very grateful for GOD’s love for me – it is TRULY AMAZING.

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