| A gigantic castle built high onto the cliffs was | | | | that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's |
| surrounded by a massive twenty foot thick rock wall | | | | evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human |
| on three sides and a heavy wood door reinforced | | | | beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the |
| with metal. The ocean protected its rear side with a | | | | heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic |
| shore line of jagged fearsome looking boulders that | | | | powers of this dark age." |
| prevented all boats from accessing its shores. It was | | | | What does this have to do with marriage? It has |
| an impenetrable fortress protected with parapets | | | | everything to do with marriage. Look at yourself as if |
| attached to the walls for the thousands of armed | | | | you are a castle no matter how strong you are in |
| forces that further guarded it from enemy attack. | | | | the spring there is always an army that wants to |
| It was an awesome sight that had intrigued many | | | | take you on and destroy the world that you created |
| kings and mighty generals who tried without success | | | | for yourself. They want what you have and they will |
| to conquer its people and bring its kings to an early | | | | stop at nothing to get it. |
| grave. Yet every spring without fail a new ambitious | | | | This is how our world works. When you love, Satan |
| army would defiantly take a stand and wage war! | | | | wants to destroy your marriage because he hates |
| Have you ever wished that your relationship was as | | | | love. Satan stands for everything that can possibly |
| strong as a castle built on a gigantic rock? A refuge | | | | go wrong in your marriage. God on the other hand |
| where you would feel totally safe and secure where | | | | stands for love. Because you love you are following |
| nothing could penetrate the fortress you built around | | | | God. Satan fights against love because he is the |
| your family. People couldn't break your marriage up! | | | | enemy of everything good. |
| Raging storms could not topple the steel and stone | | | | A great battle is raging outside the walls of your |
| that kept you safely knit together against all forces | | | | marriage wanting to topple the walls and end your |
| of natural disasters and wars. | | | | love. The only way to save the marriage is to |
| Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were provided with | | | | understand how to shield yourself from the war that |
| everything you needed in order to keep your | | | | is meant to annihilate your marriage. |
| marriage strong and true? Boy wouldn't it be great? | | | | Whether you are a Christian or you don't pay any |
| Except, in today's world, a marriage like this is seldom | | | | attention to God, you will still be attacked if you love |
| protected against the bad things that normally | | | | someone. For God is love! Your only defense is to |
| happen to people. | | | | understand what kind of offense you must build in |
| Most marriages fail in the first one to three years. | | | | order to fight back! |
| Even though the couple are in love, they can't stand | | | | Ephesians 6: 13, "So put on God's armor now! Then |
| up against the controversy that takes place when | | | | when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist |
| one of them loses a job or goes through a sickness | | | | the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, |
| that makes them dependent on their mate. When | | | | you will still hold your ground." |
| the love dulls and real life suddenly kicks in, they | | | | You must have a strong belief system in God if you |
| notice their mates flaws and they realize how much | | | | want a long-lasting marriage. The only way to do this |
| they must sacrifice for the other person's children | | | | is to read your Bible and pray for protection against |
| who were born from another marriage. | | | | Satan. A couple who prays together stays together! |
| When you are a Christian and your marriage is in | | | | When you are in a world that is intertwined with an |
| shambles you blame God. You did everything right | | | | unseen spiritual world your only defense is activating |
| and yet all you do as a couple is fight. You don't | | | | your faith in God and casting all of your cares onto |
| understand why God won't make the other person | | | | Him. |
| see that they are wrong and you are right. Doesn't | | | | God is your offense and your defense against |
| God want your marriage to work? | | | | Satan's evil forces. Satan fights against love, while |
| On the other hand if God was never a part of your | | | | God holds love together and makes it strong! |
| marriage, then you cry and become emotional, while | | | | Ephesians 6: 16-18, "At all times carry faith as a shield; |
| telling all of your friends what a liar you married. They | | | | for with it you will be able to put out all the burning |
| are very consoling while pointing out to you the | | | | arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as |
| other person's flaws, but behind your back they may | | | | a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which |
| be secretly laughing at your mistake. | | | | the Spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for |
| Unfortunately either story can be millions of peoples | | | | God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit |
| experience when they fall head over heels for the | | | | leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; |
| wrong person. Most people have no idea what | | | | pray always for all God's people." |
| makes a good marriage and being blind to the other | | | | God wants to help you stand up against the evil |
| person's flaws is one of the prices you pay when | | | | forces that want to topple your castle into the |
| you take a flying leap into the passion of love. | | | | ocean below. He wants to make your marriage so |
| What makes a marriage a union that stays together | | | | strong that nothing can stand up against it and make |
| no matter what the couple faces in life? When you | | | | it fail. God wants to Save your relationship and make |
| are dealing with people it is not black or white. It | | | | it last in to a 50 year commitment, but you must ask |
| takes work that can only happen when both are no | | | | Him for His help. |
| longer two people; but one. This takes a supernatural | | | | Joshua 5:13&14, "While Joshua was near Jericho, he |
| power! It takes praying to a higher power than | | | | suddenly saw a man standing in front of him, holding |
| ourselves. It takes knowing how God wants two | | | | a sword. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you |
| people to make it in order to stand up to the bad | | | | one of our soldiers, or an enemy?' |
| things that are meant to destroy love on the earth. | | | | 'Neither,' the man answered. 'I am here as the |
| If you really want to know what makes a marriage | | | | commander of the Lord's army.'" |
| strong then you must look at our world for what it | | | | Joshua was about to take the Israelites into the |
| is. It is a battleground of good versus evil. It is a | | | | Promised Land. They were going to have to fight! |
| journey that takes you on a quest of knowledge | | | | Because they prayed and relied on God, he sent |
| that is meant to pit you against opposition so you will | | | | them a supernatural army to fight for them. |
| make the right choice. | | | | When you are in a great game of life you will face |
| It is an emotional rollercoaster that can take you on | | | | opposition. But when you activate your faith in God, |
| the most exciting ride that you have ever | | | | He will send out thousands of Angels to defend your |
| experienced in life. But in order to hold tight to your | | | | love. Our prayers make us strong. Our belief system |
| love you must understand the rules to playing the | | | | gives us the faith to stand up against family |
| game of life. | | | | problems, sicknesses, devastating storms, and the |
| Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally, build up your strength in | | | | wars that will happen to people. This is how you |
| union with the Lord and by means of his mighty | | | | make your marriage last: build your castle on the solid |
| power. Put on all the armor that God gives you, so | | | | rock of God! |