Maintenance · Psalms of Crisis and Spiritual Warfare
How do you stop seeing your spouse as the enemy?
Identifying the Real Enemy: Your Spouse Isn't the Problem
Diagnosis
Right now, are you seeing your spouse as the source of your misery, your oppressor, or the thing standing in your way? Have you forgotten who the war is actually against?
The Sword
Ephesians 6:12 · John 10:10 (NIV)
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. (Ephesians 6:12) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
The Light
In every marriage crisis there are three players: you, your spouse, and the invisible enemy. The devil isn't omnipresent, but his demons assigned to your home are persistent. When you argue, there's a spirit of division whispering, "You're right, don't back down." When there's coldness, there's a spirit of apathy chilling the prayer life. When there's lust, there's a spirit of immorality flashing mental images. If you don't identify the third player, you'll inevitably attack the second one (your spouse) thinking they're the first. The war isn't against your partner. Your partner is the spoil, the battlefield, or—if they're in sin—a prisoner of war to rescue. Today, before you talk to your spouse, talk to God and ask: "What spirit is operating in this situation?" Then bind it in the name of Jesus and loose yourselves to love each other.
The Pact
Tonight, sit face to face and do this exercise: Each of you writes on a piece of paper the name of the spirit you believe is attacking your marriage most this season (Division, Anger, Lust, Apathy, Financial Confusion, Sickness, etc.). Then put the papers on the floor between you and pray together standing up, declaring: "In the name of Jesus, we bind [name of the spirit] and forbid it from operating in our marriage. It has no authority over this covenant sealed by the blood of Christ." Then rip the papers and throw them out.
Rescue prayer
Lord of Hosts, open our spiritual eyes. We don't want to fight flesh and blood while the real enemy laughs at our ignorance. Identify the rulers of darkness that have laid siege to our house and give us the authority of Christ to throw them out. Tonight, may every spirit of division, lust, anger, or death flee from the presence of Your Holy Spirit in this home. Amen.