"No marriage is easy or perfect, but every marriage is worth fighting for!”In this episode, Lara Casey, the CEO of Cultivate What Happens, shares her personal marriage journey. Lara and her Jewish, military husband struggled for many years before God not only answered her prayer for a shared faith, but overtime He also healed the pain from all the earlier hurt and rekindled their love for each other.

When it seemed easier to give up, Lara relied on her faith and pressed in deeper to God. He used Lara as well as a matrix of relationships and the power of His Word to lead her husband into a relationship with Him.

I also share the story of God's healing in my marriage.

If you are struggling in your marriage or are married to an unbeliever, God wants to encourage you today! It was when Lara and I came to the end of ourselves that God was able to create a beautiful masterpiece out of all of the broken pieces. He can do that for you too!{ USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }

Important Takeaways from Show

There is no such thing as an easy or perfect marriageEvery time an argument arises choose to pray firstWhen we recognize how much God has forgiven us, we can easier forgive our spouseDon't allow someone else's lack of faith to hold you back from practicing your faithAny exposure to Scripture is powerful (Isaiah 55:11)You don't have to lure others to faith or pretend your life is perfect, but rather live out your real faith in front of them"What if God's primary intent for your marriage isn't to make you happy . . . but holy?" ~ Gary Thomas Sacred MarriageThe time between your hurt and your miracle is an opportunity to practice faithSeek God rather than a perfect marriage and trust Him with the outcomeOur purity and reverence for God and our respect and love for our spouse can draw our spouse to God (1 Peter 3:1)Rather than resent an unbelieving spouse, ask God to change your heart so you can present the sweetness of ChristHumility is one of the strongest displays of Christ to othersYou cannot change your spouse's heart, only God canSpend time with Christ and allow His aroma to spread to your spouseTrials are what ground your faith and strengthen your wordsA "gentle and quiet spirit" is one that is free from fear (1 Peter 3:4)Renew your commitment to your marriage (no matter what!)Get a big-picture mindset and commit to a long-term marriageDon't lose sight of the temporary nature of struggles and the powerful hand of God to change things in His timingSubmit your heart to God and ask Him to give you a new love for your spouseAnchor your relationship by praying together often

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ~ 1 Peter 3:1

Links from ShowPrevious Episode: 006: Cultivate What Matters with Lara Casey | The Living RoomBook: Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life Book: Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap. Live On PurposeBook: Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?Podcast: Cultivate Your Life PodcastCultivate What Matters PowerSheets [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]Connect with Lara CaseyWebsite | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

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