How was your holiday season? Did you have magical moments with your spouse or did frequent spats leave you feeling sapped?
Our year closed out with me having the flu for two weeks in mid-December. Instead of enjoying two romantic nights away in Nashville for our anniversary as we had planned, my husband and I slept in separate rooms for eight days straight. I didn’t read my Bible, and we didn’t talk much during that time. Instead, I spent hours playing Wordscapes, watching episodes of Guy’s Grocery Games and Dateline, and watching movies including Sleepless In Seattle and The Proposal. This content was set against the knowledge of God by the fact that it ignored His existence altogether.
It is amazing, scary actually, how different I felt after being disconnected from real relationships, responsibilities, and truth for so many days. As a result, I felt far away from the Lord and my husband. When I finally started feeling better physically, a positive outlook on life did not naturally follow. My husband had done an amazing job taking care of the kids and household while I was down, yet I was out of sync trying to interact with him again. I began to realize I would need to be intentional to pull myself out of my funk.
This is likely why the Bible commands us to take every thought captive to be obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). I know, I know, just saying that out loud can sound daunting. But this verse indicates we have more control over our thoughts (and therefore actions) than we may realize.
Consider saying yes to a few activities to shake off a funky feeling and help your thoughts change course. Moving your body and being productive has a big impact on your feelings. Think, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) as you begin.
- Organize one small area (a drawer, purse, console, trunk, shelf, cabinet, closet, or room etc.) Throw away trash and unused items. I recently tackled my bedside table after being sick.
- Start a load of laundry and complete it—wash, dry, fold, and put away. Cleaning my sheets was a good start for me.
- Go for a walk or jog. Don’t worry about your pace. Just try to move for 10 minutes.
- Attend a workout class, if available to you. My husband and I attended a spin class at our local Y this past week. Even though I didn’t initially want to go, and my legs felt like spaghetti, I was glad I went.
- Decide to be intimate with your spouse; be honest about your reservations and ask God to reignite desire, if necessary.
- Take out your journal and answer the following question: What is my current attitude, and does it please the Lord?
- Read and pray the Bible over your life and loved ones. Luke 6:20-49 is a great place to start if you need to be jolted out of worldly thinking.
We pray that God will encourage your heart, increase your faith, and energize your marriage in 2024.
