Seek the Lord Sunday:How has being a Christian effected your marriage?

Today the Seek the Lord Sunday question is "How has being a christian effected your marriage"?

I have been a follower of Christ as long as I can remember. I was raised in christian home, and I am so grateful to my parents for this heritage.  My husband had been raised in a similar way, similar heritage.  However, I realized early in our marriage that he did not truly have a personal relationship/walk with the Lord.  We fell out of the routine of going to church and seeking the Lord.  After many years (about 8) we found our selves with a marriage in ruin.  We were a prime example of what happens when you take God out of the marriage.  There were lies, betrayal, and an appearance of no love left.   I wanted us to seek counseling, get back into church, etc.  My husband wanted out.  He was literally running from God.  He tells me now, that it all changed one day, when he knew that God spoke to him and he realized that he had to change.   My husband came to me, and said he wanted to make things work.  He would go to counseling (a christian counselor) and that he wanted  our marriage to last.  I know that the only reason we are together now is because my husband finally turned his life over to the Lord.  He also asked me to forgive him of wrong doing.  Now, this is where the non-christian marriage would have ended (and some christian marriages).  I, however, could not do that.  The Holy Spirit kept reminding me, "Jesus has forgiven you. He commands us to forgive others."  I knew if Jesus could die for me, and forgive me of all my unworthiness, then I had to do the same for my husband.  I am not saying it was an easy thing to do.  However, God heals broken hearts, and can mend any marriage.  You have to be willing to work hard, endure many tears and then there is a blessing beyond any you can imagine.  Our blessing was a restored marriage and our Gracie.  After 13 years of marriage, we had our Grace.  We named her Grace because it was only fitting.  God had showed such Grace to us through the healing of our relation with Him as well as with each other.  We are now active members of a church, are surrounded by wonderful christian friends, and we seek the Lord to lead our lives.  So, how has being a christian effected my marriage, well, I wouldn't be married today.  I would not have had the hope, known the healing, and experienced the forgiveness to allow my marriage to be made whole.  

This is a picture of our family on the day we had a formal dedication of Grace to the Lord, this past fall at our church. The other, a recent picture of a blessed daddy and his little princess. I love my life. I am so blessed. Thank you Lord for what you have done and continue to do in my marriage.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127:1

Don't labor in vain, let the Lord be the builder and guard over your marriage!!

Please go to Call Her Blessed to see what others have shared on this same topic, and maybe consider sharing yourself.