March 18
Slaying the Phantom (Part Three) Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My own phantom is just as lofty and unattainable as Barbara's:He rises early, has a quiet time reading the Bible and praying, then jogs several seven-minute miles.After breakfast with his family, he presents a 15-minute devotional.Never forgetting to hug and kiss his wife good-bye, he arrives at work 10 minutes early.He is consistently patient with his coworkers, always content with his job. His desk is never cluttered, and he is confidently in control.He arrives home on time every day and never turns down his kids when they want to play.He is well read in world events, politics and important social issues.He never gets discouraged, never wants to quit and always has the right words for any circumstances.He constantly plans romantic outings for his wife and himself.He can quote large sections of Scripture in a single bound, has faith more powerful than a locomotive and is faster than a speeding bullet when solving family conflicts. Ultimately these phantoms put us under a crushing pile of guilt. And here's where the marriage relationship can really help. Sit down with your mate and spend some time describing your own phantoms. Ask your mate where these expectations came from. Talk about which of these expectations are realistic and which are not.
Prayer: That God will use you to encourage one another and build into each other's lives.
Discuss: Make up a new list of goals for yourself. Make them realistic and attainable. Then evaluate them with your mate.
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