*This blog comes from a marriage enrichment class my husband and I taught.
A Merry Heart
In life it is important to laugh and to have a merry heart. In Proverbs 17:22 it states, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” However what does having a merry heart have to do with marriage? Honestly it means everything. If we do not have a merry heart how do we give life to our marriage, how do we have laughter and rest. Based on Proverbs 17:22 a merry heart is like medicine, it brings health to your body and soul.
Proverbs 15:13 states, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” When we are thriving in our marriages we can have fun together and be playful, similar to how we acted in our marriages when we were first dating. It is important to laugh together and enjoy those intimate moments with one another.
Proverbs 15:15 proclaims “All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” I want you to imagine with me a continual feast. First off it is a feast so you are more than likely sharing with others. Think of times when people are gathered around the table and the conversations and laughter that is being shared. Again it is continual and doesn’t end.
In this passage the word for merry is from the Hebrew word tobe H2895; (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh, loving, merry, most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well. So we could literally say a beautiful, bountiful, cheerful, fine, glad, good, joyful, kindly, loving, merry, pleasant, precious, ready, sweet heart has a continual feast.
So I want to ask, how is your heart? Is your heart joyful, glad and pleasant in regards to your marriage?
Labor to Rest
Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.” When we are united working together in our marriage it is always better and we will be rewarded with rest in our marriage. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10NKJV We have been given rest but often we have to labor to receive it. We have to work to have rest not only personally but also as a couple.
My husband, John and I, experienced how important rest is recently when we were on a vacation. On the third day of resting we were finally in a state of peace that we didn’t realize had been missing because we had been going and going for so long that we did not realize how much we had needed that time to have rest together. We were enjoying each others company, taking walks, sitting by the pool, enjoying dinners out and wonderful conversation. We were not talking about our to-do list, the projects left unfinished, or even the kids that did not want to join us most of the time. Instead we rested with each other and laughed together.
We realize that going on vacations is not always an option but there are plenty of things you can do to have that rest together. Think back to those dating years and what you had done. Maybe you enjoy hiking, going for rides, movie nights cuddled on the couch, or trying new restaurants. The important part is remembering to have fun together and enjoying those intimate moments.
Psalms 16:11 shares, “You will show me(us) the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God’s desire is to show you and your spouse the path of life He has for you. When we come together into God’s presence we will have the fullness of joy that God wants for us as a married couple and He has pleasures forevermore for us. *Italicized word added for emphasis
Oftentimes we as a couple need to surrender everything to God, not only our personal desires and needs but also our marriage. Surrender is something the Lord has had on my heart recently and I feel as though we cannot truly have the rest our marriage needs until we have fully surrendered to Him. Surrender may seem scary because we want to be in control. However God does not want us to hold anything back from Him, including every part of our marriage.
I want to close with Psalm 23:1-3 and I’m going to change the wording so that you can speak this at home over you and your spouse:
“The Lord is our shepherd; We shall not want. He makes us to lie down in green pastures; He leads us beside the still waters. He restores our soul; He leads us in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalms 23:1-3NKJV
Prayer
My prayer is that you would confess this over your marriage, that you would surrender everything to God and ask Him to lead you to a place of rest in your marriage that could be missing. I pray for laughter to return in those lives that have been struggling with the busyness of life. I bind up any distractions that may be hindering you from having intimate times together and I speak blessing and peace to surround you and your home. Father I thank you that marriage is your sacred covenant that you desire and and that you have brought these couples together. You love them and desire good things for their marriage. I pray for each couple reading this post, in Jesus name, amen.