This is Week 39 of the book, Unlock Your Libido.  Are you looking for keys to help a lagging sex drive?  Read more about this easy journey with profound results; Unlock Your Libido:  52-Week Sex Drive Transformation.

In Luke 4, Jesus was tempted three times by Satan.  Satan was trying to get Jesus to fail in his earthly life.  If Jesus failed to be perfect, his sacrifice wouldn’t atone for our sins.

Ephesians 6 tells us that spiritual warfare is a reality for the followers of Jesus.  Anytime Christians try to walk closely in the Lord’s character they risk coming under attack.

Anytime people come together and strengthen their walk with our Lord, they risk coming under spiritual attack.  The bond of marriage is singularly powerful, two people coming together through a covenant.

Why is marriage in Satan’s bull’s eye?

ONE. Marriage is a portrayal of the relationship the Lord wishes to have with us (Ephesians 5:32, John 3:29).  Satan wants to do whatever he can to sabotage marriage.  It hurts us and it hurts God.

I’ve also read that marriage is a portrayal of the gospel.  In a way, I guess this could be true.  Simply put, the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, one who did not sin, for the atonement of our sins.

Not that any spouse on earth is perfect, but when we get married it leads to the opportunity of self-sacrifice.  When we bury our own wants and needs and strive to serve like Christ, the marriage relationship can be flourish.  Serving like Christ can resurrect a hurting marriage.

Marriages that aren’t weary from battle are able to add luster to gospel.  (Titus 2:10) Never forget that there are people in your community watching.  The enemy would rather we be weary.

TWO.  Marriage makes us more like Christ.  Of course, there are other relationships that can mold us.  However, God uses the magic, misery, fights, financial tribulations, joy, births, selfishness and self-sacrifice to make us more like him.  We get to practice humility and sacrificial love for another person.

THREE.  Marriage involves love.  Satan hates this characteristic which is opposite of himself.

It encompasses 3 resilient forms of love:

eros– sensual love,

philia– love of friendship,

agape– unconditional love.

Whether you are wearing a ring or not, the second greatest command is to love one another as you would yourself (Matthew 22:39).  Christ’s sacrifice was to bring us all into unity with God and with each other.  Satan’s desire is to disrupt the glory we give to God through our unity.

FOUR.  When marriages are suffering, it dims the heartlight of husbands and wives.  Yes, we should be striving to share the love of Christ whether we feel depressed or happy.  But, let’s face it, when we feel blue we aren’t as effective as parents, friends, or ambassadors for Christ.

FIVE.  A big part of society is disrupted when Satan attacks marriage.

Marriage creates family.  Archbishop Nienstedt of St.Paul/Minneapolis says, “Family is the first vital cell of society; the first church, first school, first hospital, first economy, first government and first mediating institution of our social order.  The future of a free and healthy society passes through marriage and family.”

Realizing Satan is undermining unity in marriage does not provide an excuse for bad behavior by the spouses.  However, this realization about Satan is freeing!

If you read my post about complacency, you’ll know that there has been some recent conflict between my husband and I.

Our conflict has stricken me with grief and remorse and questions.  Am I a fraud? I’ve been touting for nearly 2 years sexually connecting in spite of low libido.  It’s like I took a face plant while wearing stilettos.  I look all sexually confident on the outside, when really I’m still on this pebbly path and I severely lose my balance sometimes.

I cowered for the first few days wondering how my heart could withstand the crushed dejection in the eyes of Dave once again.   Look what I’d done to him!

Then the Holy Spirit put resolve in my heart.  I know this resolve came through my precious prayer warriors.  I talked with my husband about the possibility of our conflict resulting from spiritual warfare and a light came on in those hurt eyes.

My sweet friend, Jesus refuses to allow any marriage to be bullied by the devil.

The gospel of Jesus includes a powerful one-and-done resurrection.  I would choose sexual marital conflict to only happen once, too.  Unfortunately, conflict arises often in marriage.  We get the opportunity to watch the miracle of resurrection over and over again.

My low libido sister, if the struggle between you and your husband feels greater than normal, you may be under attack.  Put out a call to your prayer warriors, allow the Holy Spirit to put resolve in your heart and suit up for battle (Ephesians 6)…..or maybe in our case it’s un-suit for battle.  😉

Scripture meditation

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood with just ‘character flaws’ in my spouse, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places,” Ephesians 6:12, paraphrase by Jimmy Evans.

“Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,” 1 Peter 5:8.

Positive affirmation

I cherish Jesus.  I cherish the knowledge he is protecting my marriage.  I cherish the union I have with my husband through sexual intimacy.  I cherish that I am a sexually charged daughter of God.