pray that you use this time to bless all who read this devotional.
There tend to be 2 kinds of fence people in the world. The first kind of fencer values things like straight lines, 5 strands, 8 ft. wood posts spaced 10 ft. apart, with 12" ground clearance and 1 ft. line spaces. These people tend to take a mighty personal offense to crooked fences that are unevenly spaced made from random sized "posts" by whatever was hanging around the ranch that day.
The second kind of fencer values getting the job done quickly and prefers the path of least resistance in the least amount of time while still accomplishing the task of keeping designated animals in or out. To this person details like straight lines, post materials, post and line spacing are flexible and they tend to follow the "just get it done however" philosophy. This type of fence person is often annoyed by time consuming details like H braces and using measuring tapes to set post spacing.
Yet our mighty God in His infinite wisdom and grace chose to place John (the first kind of fencer) and me (the second kind of fencer) in a covenant of marriage, one flesh knowing that for many days over many years as ranchers we would be building fence together.
Ya'll I will confess to you that there have been some volatile, explosive fights between us over where to put the fence, what materials to use, how far to set the posts, how deep to dig to post holes, and on and on. I truly believe if you couples love Jesus and you can build a fence with your spouse, there is nothing in this word you can not overcome. To get it done and still have a spouse at the end of the project takes love, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and a whole lot of grace.
I remember one particularly difficult project was made more so by the rain. Add that to the fact that we couldn't get the equipment where we needed it which made the job twice as long and 10 times as painful. We were hurting, hungry, tired, and in a rush. Just one of those things is a recipe for disaster but all 4? The kids made the smart move and immediately launched their evacuation plan; however, I didn't follow their lead. I lost my patience followed by my grace being towed off by any kindness I had left for my husband. I chose anger and blame rather than love and encouragement. Angry words were tossed out carelessly like "We just can't work together. We don't do well together. This will never work."
In my outburst, God snatched my attention and called me remember Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
God reminded me to look around me and see His work in us. He showed me that the completion of this project would have been impossible for either of us to do alone. God brought to mind the thousands of times that I am working harder on a project than I ever have (fencing, moving cows, moving water, hanging gates etc.) in miserable conditions with no food, little water, and no end in sight and there is only one person who is continually at my side working just as hard or harder than I am because his dream is to make my dreams come true.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
God led me to confess my sin and to repent. I prayed thanks for the gift of sight and the gift of truth revealed to me through straight and crooked fences. I praised Him for his greatness and His goodness and thanked Him for the gift of my incredible husband who loves me so well. Then I humbly confessed my sin to John, asking his forgiveness and thanking him for his goodness in my life. John reciprocated and our fellowship was restored with God and with one another.
1. What are the straight crooked fences in your relationships? The topic or subject that always ends in conflict.
2. Have you prayed for God to give you His perspective in this situation and asked Him to forgive you for the ways you are sinning too?
3. Thank God for His work in you and in your spouse, that He uses your differences to grow you in your fellowship with Him and fellowship with one another. Confess your sins to your spouse and humbly reconcile to one another.
4. Prayer: Father God, I I pray for a revival. That eyes will be opened to see and ears will be opened to hear your will drawing us into fellowship with you and with one another. I pray for all the sick, hurting, lost, and broken people of this world to be drawn near to you and us to them so we may find joy, peace, and love that only you can provide. Forever and Ever, In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
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