Looking on the inside

Last night was mine and Nate's first pre-marriage counseling session. All I can say is that it's pretty intense when you actually start to dive into the "deeper issues of relationships". All I can give for advice for people going into this themselves is to try to keep everything in perspective. You both are on the same team, you are working through this together, so there is no need for division. The enemy is also going to try to come in and make everything 10 times worse then they really are. We need to remember this. Satan hates relationships. He hates marriage and the idea of two people about to make that covenant. Here is a quote from a book I was reading today: "The oneness (in marriage) gives us a power that the enemy doesn't like. That's why he devises ways to weaken it. He gives us whatever we will fall for, whether it be low self-esteem, pride, the need to be right, miscommunication, or the bowing to our own selfish desires. He will tell you lies like, 'nothing will ever change.''Your failures are irreparable.''There's no hope for reconciliation.''You'd be happier with someone else.' He'll tell you whatever you will believe, because he knows if he can get you to believe it, there's no future for your marriage. If you believe enough lies, your heart will eventually be hardened against God's truth." This is so true in so many ways. I just wish it wasn't so hard to go through. But this scripture brings encouragement:
James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Praise God!