The Fight For Family
Mark 10:9 NLT
8And the husband and wife will be joined as one flesh, and after that they no longer exist as two, but one flesh. 9So there you have it. What God has joined together, no one has the right to split apart.” (Mark 10:8-9 NLT)
The nuclear family, is God's original design, husband and wife coming together as one flesh, multiplying offspring and becoming a unified family. It is clear God designed marriage to be a lifetime. He never intended there to be division. It says that Satan the thief comes with a purpose, "is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10 NLT) God's purpose is opposite he came to bring union through his love. Union of family members provides a satisfying and rich life. Disunity of family members affects the quality of life in negative ways.
When a family is supportive, harmonious, connected, and collaborative it builds a structure like walls that guard the enemy from invasion.
Think of your home, with a wall of fire around it. The Lord gave me a scripture that gave me vision on how to pray for my family. In Zechariah 2:5 (AMP)
“For I,’ declares the Lord , ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”. The fire is the Lord, our protector. When we as a family are surrounded by “enemies” this could be relational conflict, physical challenges and attacks like illnesses, financial scarcity, emotional attacks like depression, anxiety. We can trust God to be our Glory in the middle/midst of the spiritual war around us. In these moments, we must run to God and seek him believing that his glory (manifested nature) will encounter us and breakthrough. Jesus didn’t promise that we wouldn’t go through trials but what he does promise is his nearness and comfort in the midst of trials. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT) Our heart must become steadfast and fixed on the Lord Jesus, who is our Victory. We must pursue Him who has all grace and all sufficiency to provide all we need to endure through trials. We must not divide in the midst of enemy attacks. We must fight for togetherness no matter the cost, sacrificing everything to keep the bond of family.
For the Fight for Family:
Separation in arguments, disagreements, chaos, troubles is never the answer. Remember these words from my wise husband, “I am not the problem. You are not the problem. The problem is the Problem. Let's come together to fight the problem.” We are aware that communication takes time, so agree to unite to talk within a reasonable time that day to problem solve and reconnect. Often times we give too much room for the devil to come and bring offense, or feelings of defeat. Instead pursue earnestly to reconcile as fast as possible. Remember, every family member is entitled to opinions, the goal is not to “win” the fight, rather it's to create collaboration to gain new strengths, and understand weaknesses of one another to build together and grow together. Take time to actively listen, take time for the other person to speak before interrupting, take time to personally reflect. “Life is fragile, handle with prayer” is a quote we have in our home. The truth is prayer alone and prayer together gives us wisdom on how to handle life difficulties. Often when trails come, I began to pray for HELP from God. I acknowledge my need for God’s wisdom, his love, and his truth to overcome the darkness that surrounds me. Prayer is essential! We must not let a day go by without asking for God to protect of our family, our hearts, our minds, and our physical body. When an individual in the family is under attack, join forces with one another, lay hands, and intercede on their behalf. This is the power of unity and faith.
The bible provides a recipe for a harmonious home. Read Colossians 3:12-20. There are many bible verses, and books that I have read that has inspired me to fight for family the biblical way. Live a lifestyle of forgiveness, continue to extend mercy to others, ask mercy from God, and desire to live at peace. Holy living establishes God's Kingdom here on earth. You and Your family display the Goodness of God, and the power of the Cross through your daily lives and actions.
Reference:
Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].
Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Prayer: Dear God, help me to walk in love and unity with my family. Teach me your ways, help me to extend mercy and forgive as often as needed. Give me courage to fight for the unity of this family. Unify us, transform us, till we look like you. Amen.
