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Looking for a Good Excuse? - Part 1: Finding God’s Why, Reclaiming Marriage Goals · Couples’ Journey Podcast Channel

• 0:00
  Imagine building a life and a marriage that truly reflects God's purpose for you.
• 0:06
  Welcome to Couples Journey with Christ Jesus blog series entitled,
• 0:10
  Looking for a Good Excuse? Here's part one.
• 0:13
  Today, Ray and Annie share their heartfelt reflection on the importance of aligning
• 0:18
  our goals with God's plan, rooted in trust, communication, and His wisdom.
• 0:23
  Stay tuned. Your journey to a stronger, Christ-centered marriage starts now. Here's part one.
• 0:30
  We can quickly come up with many reasons why the goals we set in past years
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  haven't materialized. Many aren't even close to reality.
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  Worse, our marriage and family might be on edge because we haven't taken intentional
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  steps toward the plans we once agreed on.
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  We might find ourselves defending our choices, our circumstances,
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  or how things have turned out.
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  But deep down, we can't deny that there's so much more we could have done.
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  In those moments, we realized that those reasons start to sound more like excuses.
• 1:01
  When we first decided to get married, we were good at setting goals.
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  At that time, we didn't focus much on the details because of our commitments to the U. S.
• 1:10
  Navy. Our goals were mainly centered on completing service, inspired by stories
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  and experiences shared by fellow military families.
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  Back then, we hardly considered God or had much knowledge about Christianity.
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  Honestly, it was clear how limited our understanding was, and we never thought
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  about God's plans for us.
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  Then, when life changed and we left the service, it became clear that the goals
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  we had set didn't hold up against the challenges we faced.
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  God stepped into our lives in a way that almost cost us our marriage.
• 1:42
  We've shared this before in previous blogs, also in our book,
• 1:46
  Couples Journey, Restore, Relearn, Rejoice.
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  But today we want to emphasize how crucial it is to seek God's plan for our marriage.
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  More than that, it's about developing habits rooted in Christ,
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  so that when we take intentional steps toward our goals, we're not just focused on the result.
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  Instead, we're embracing the sanctification process that God is working within us.
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  Proverbs 15 verse 22 offers wise words that can guide us in setting goals and
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  making decisions along the way. Without counsel.
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  Plans are frustrated, but with many counselors, they succeed.
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  Looking at this verse, we see some key lessons about making plans and pursuing shared goals.
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  1. The importance of communication and counsel.
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  Just like seeking advice helps ensure success, we should openly discuss our
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  intentions, seek wise counsel when needed, and make decisions together.
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  This fosters unity and reduces misunderstandings. 2.
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  Avoiding rash decisions. Acting impulsively without careful thought can lead
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  to conflicts or failure.
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  Taking time to deliberate, consider each other's perspectives,
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  and plan thoughtfully is so valuable. 3.
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  Trust and confidentiality. Sharing our hopes or plans prematurely or without
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  mutual agreement can cause distrust or external interference.
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  Respecting each other's confidentiality strengthens our partnership.
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  4. Building purpose and confidence together.
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  When both of us align our goals and seek counsel, whether from trusted friends,
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  mentors, or spiritual guidance, we can build a solid foundation.
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  This increases our confidence and likelihood of success in our shared commitments.
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  Ultimately, our marriage thrives when we communicate openly.
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  Seek wisdom, deliberate carefully,
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  trust each other, and work together confidently toward our goals.
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  Most importantly, when we submit and surrender our plans to God's will and purpose.
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  Unity and teamwork become easier and stronger when we recognize that our goals
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  and steps are rooted in obedience to God.
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  Holding on to this truth keeps us grounded and constantly seeking the Holy Spirit's
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  guidance, not just to avoid temptation, but to be ready for whatever redirection God provides.
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  We know that God didn't promise us a smooth journey, So we must stay anchored
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  in Christ, remain focused, and remain committed to His ultimate plan for our marriage.
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  Remember this encouraging message in Jeremiah 29 verse 11.
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  For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord.
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  Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
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  This will remind us that God's plans are for our good, guiding us to Him as
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  we pursue our goals and walk in His purpose for our marriage and life.
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  This encourages faith and hope, reaffirming that God is ultimately in control of our journey.
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  By following this channel, leaving comments, and sharing episodes with your family and friends.
• 4:59
  You're helping us in our mission to transform marriages today.
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  Your support encourages more couples to seek God's guidance and grow stronger together.
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  Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can make a difference.
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  Here's the final part of today's episode.
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  As we close today's episode, remember that our plans succeed best when they
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  are guided by God's wisdom and intentions.
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  Like Ray and Annie remind us, seeking counsel, trusting in His sovereignty,
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  and surrendering our goals to Him transforms our relationships and leads us
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  toward hope and purpose.
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  Join us tomorrow as we continue this journey of faith and renewal.