30-Day Marriage Class by Vance K. JacksonSample

Withering Is a Choice.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:4–6 KJV

Abide in Christ. Let God’s Word burn away everything that’s not like Him within the walls of your marriage. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for Abide is menō (G3306), which means “To remain.” Choose to remain in Christ. Allow every aspect of your marriage to abide in Him. Let your heart dwell in His Word. Choose to obey His Voice and follow His Instruction. Let your marriage abide in Him.

Deuteronomy 28:1–2 KJV declares, “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” When you diligently follow Christ and heed to His Instruction, Deuteronomy 28 declares that God will set you high above all the nations of the Earth.

Promotion comes as a result of your submission. Enlargement comes as a result of your surrendering. Expansion is a fruit of submission. As a couple, choose to break the yoke of generational bondage, cycles, and barriers by surrendering to His Word.

His Word has power. His Word is Power and can break through anything that opposes or hinders your marriage from being fruitful and successful. 1 Peter 5:7 KJV declares, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” The Amplified Version expounds upon 1 Peter 5:7 AMPC in the following manner, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps. 55:22.]”

God cares for you. God wants you to succeed. God wants your marriage to succeed. He wants you to thrive and not wither. God does not want your marriage to wither. God doesn’t want you to wither. Withering is a choice.

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV declares, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” God has set before you a choice—you have the choice to surrender to God and follow His Word, or you can surrender to the entanglements of the world and wither in the wilderness.

It’s your choice. You can choose to wither or you can choose to let His Word come alive in the heart of your marriage. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 KJV. Choose to be set free. Be not entangled in the yoke and bondage of the past.