ESTABLISHED 2011

"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation" (Isaiah 28:16)

(Katie) James and I welcomed 2011 in Arizona. We felt very blessed to spend 4 uninterrupted days together (and with my family) reflecting, hiking, playing tennis, biking, eating exquisite food, resting, and appreciating the breathtaking mountains that surrounded us. Needless to say, it was a much welcomed Selah to our busy schedule in Wheaton.

James and I hiked Pinnacle Peak one morning and we decided to hike in silence, taking time to pray into what God wants us to focus on for 2011. I continue to be amazed by God's faithfulness and how He unites James and I when we intentionally take time to seek His vision in prayer. As a verbal processor, silence is not always the easiest thing for me. When we finished the hike, James spoke about being "established" and I talked about building a "foundation." Thus, our theme for 2011 is establishing a sure foundation!

Isaiah 28 describes the process of a tried stone becoming a sure foundation. Prior to our Selah in Arizona, I felt like James and I were being tried: finals + minimal sleep + 10 days straight of working + 2 busy days at Christmas + 5 days a part = a perfect storm. When I am exhausted and overextended, I really struggle to stand firm in faith, secure, against lies. I believe that Satan tries very hard to tempt me to come into agreement with lies that often feel true but are not. Once I buy into the lie and make agreement with it, they begin to influence my interpretation of reality and certainly color how I see myself and others. 

Perhaps some of these agreements sound familiar:

It's just not going to get any better.

Don't rock the boat; settle for what you've got.

Its not worth the effort; don't give it one more try.

Never let anyone hurt you again.

I'm just not going to trust them anymore.

I'd be happier with someone else.

I'm not doing enough; I am not enough.

If I were a better woman, he would be happy.

I will never be understood.

Before any of us can establish a sure foundation, we must first recognize the places that we have come into agreement with lies, thus building on sand. For me, I have found it helpful to spend time asking the following questions (these are specific to marriage):

Lord, what are the agreements I have been making about my marriage?

What are the agreements that I have been making about love?

What are the agreements that I have been making about my spouse?

To have Christ reveal those agreements to you will be absolutely mind blowing. Once we recognize these agreements, we must renounce them and replace them with Truth.

As James and I reflected on the truths that we want to lay in the sure foundation of our marriage, we came up with the list below.

I am loved. Deeply and truly loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)

I am secure. Utterly and completely secure. (John 10:28)

I am forgiven. Totally forgiven. (Colossians 2:13)

God is with me. He will never abandon me. (Hebrews 13:4)

All of these truths point us back to Christ. As individuals, we both must renew our minds with the Truth above. My marriage cannot be the primary place that I look to for happiness, intimacy, and validation. The greatest gift we can give to our marriage is for both of us to continue to pursue a real relationship with Jesus. 

One of my favorite moments in Arizona was sitting in the hot tub, dreaming together about the future. Discovering the dreams and desires that God has given me and sharing them as a couple is one of the most romantic things that I have ever experienced. I continue to be in awe of God bringing James and I together: our experiences, our unique desires, our spiritual gifts, and our talents...for a future that God is calling us to. However, we can only administrate the shared vision that God has given us if we have a solid, sure foundation. Here's to 2011, a year of establishing a sure foundation for our marriage!