-written by Cindy Wright of Marriage Missions

There is an attack in our world upon Christian marriages and upon families — an attack to keep them unhealthy, weak, and breaking apart.

Think about the tactics here though: if the enemy of our faith can keep us fighting against each other, we’re not fighting against the powers of spiritual darkness —we’re participating and cooperating with the tactics of the enemy instead. We’re so busy fighting within our homes, we can’t sufficiently fight that which is REALLY our enemy.

Our spouse is not our enemy— contrary to what you see happening. Our spouse may ACT like he or she is our enemy. But the real enemy is the one behind the scenes firing up the situation.

And this is true in military marriages, just like it is true in civilian marriages. We have to recognize who the REAL enemy is, and put our efforts into defeating THOSE enemy forces — not our spouse, and not our marriages.

“Be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Let me say it again this way: the enemy is NOT your spouse. The enemy of our faith would like for you to think otherwise, but you need to look beyond the smoke screen of what you immediately see in front of you — look to what is behind the immediate, to what could be prompting this delusion —this mirage experience you are living out in your home.

Keep in mind that the real enemy is attacking the covenant vow you made with your spouse. It’s a sneaky maneuver to hurt to the heart of God, and to hurt you — the children of God. Tragically, there is a lot of participation going on between spouses to entertain the enemy and give in to the deception whenever there is a war going on within the home and when the partnership and marital team is disintegrating.

The following is a short excerpt from a radio broadcast interview that Dennis Rainey (Family Life Today Ministries) had with three Bronze Star ex-green beret, Stu Weber on this same subject:

Dennis: Because of the attack on commitment today, the covenants and vows, and marriage is no longer viewed as a lifetime partnership. I think a lot of couples in the military are really setting themselves up for a disaster, as one leaves for six months to a year to leave their spouse alone, to deal with temptations. Speak to that person who is being left, Stu.

Stu: Well, I would speak to both marriage partners about the nature of a vow. Certainly, if we can take a commission in the military to defend the Constitution at the expense of our own lives, if necessary, how much more would we be able to commit ourselves to our marriages at the expense of a simple lifetime. Certainly, we should be able to understand that both of those things are lifetime commitments that demand everything we have.

If the thing in a soldier that makes his spine strong in the face of disaster and pain and unpleasantries is there that makes him a good soldier, how much more ought those same things to be present in the things that really matter — like a relationship? And sometimes a relationship needs just to rely upon the fact that it’s got a spine, and that spine is the commitment and the oath and the promise that I made to my lady when we stood before God and friends at our marriage, and I’ll never go back on that.

Now, there are days when I don’t like it, or I don’t enjoy it. It doesn’t change the covenant a bit. There are days in soldiering where you don’t like it, but you’re still there willing to pay the price.

You are willing to pay the price in soldiering for your country. Are you willing to pay the price for your soldiering in God’s army to make your marriage and your family stronger and not fall into the deceit of the enemy of your faith?

Unfortunately, the broadcast where the above manuscript came from, is no longer available to read or listen to. However, there is another series with retired U.S. Army Major General, Bob Dees, that covers a lot of the same material.

Below we will provide web site links for all three days of this radio series. You can either listen to the individual broadcasts or read the transcripts. We hope you will pay attention to what is being said. We believe it will be a blessing to your family and help you to stand strong.

• PUT ON YOUR GOSPEL BOOTS (Part 1 of 3)

When a military member goes to war, a family goes to war. Retired Major General Bob Dees of Campus Crusade’s Military Ministry remembers when he first began to love soldiers and their families. Hear what the Military Ministry is doing to keep military families strong.

• HOPE ON THE HOME FRONT (Part 2 of 3)

Dennis Rainey talks with retired Major General Bob Dees of Campus Crusade’s Military Ministry about the unique challenges facing military families.

• PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY IN THE BATTLE (Part 3 of 3)

Marriages aren’t built on a romantic balcony but, instead, are built on a spiritual battlefield. Retired Major General Bob Dees talks with Dennis Rainey about bringing in reinforcements of love, leadership, and the Word of God to protect the family from Satan’s arrows.

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