One of the saddest stories I've ever heard came from a friend who attended a funeral then returned to tell us that the featured song in the funeral was Sinatra's: "My Way".
If you do not really read or listen to the lyrics the song has sort of a nostalgic and comforting feel. Let's face it, Sinatra could make "Yankee Doodle" sound classy and appealing. So, what's my point? I tried it my way and I found myself ashamed, empty and a prodigal. I had more than a few regrets but even as classy as Sinatra makes "My Way" sound, I promise you that not only does it majorly disappoint, doing it your way will land you in a real place called hell or as a spiritually bankrupt believer under reproof. Allow me to help you at least with the song, since I brought "ole blue eyes" into this conversation. I bet you never knew that near the end of the song Sinatra actually sings these lyrics that point that this is not the way: "For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels" Seriously, "...one who kneels..." this is all about self and so is sin, by the way. Sin is born out of selfishness, there is no way around that. A sinful heart is a selfish heart. Here is a better quote from Jesus Christ: " For what will it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? Mark 8:36 God's ways are not our ways. At the end I want to say God did it His Way in me. I cannot even do it God's way, God has to do it His way in me. Christ has to be in charge of my life, because I am not my own, I have been bought with a price. My be biblical thought for today: Don't do it your way...repent! Yes, this will absolutely help your marriage. I close with the lyrics of that classic hit, crooning an anti-Christian worldview, just so you can see, who not to be. "My Way" And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain My friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case, of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and every highway And more, much more than this, I did it my way Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway And more, much more than this, I did it my way Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way I've loved, I've laughed and cried I've had my fill, my share of losing And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing To think I did all that And may I say, not in a shy way Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows and did it my way
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Remember reading in the Bible where Jesus asks someone: "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus never wasted words or moments and there is much to learn from those moments in the Bible.
When your marriage is dead, or dying, you need a miracle. The truth is, every marriage needs the miraculous power of Christ in order to thrive. Both spouses have to be dead to self and alive in Christ. That in itself involves a miracle, so how does one avail such miracolus power? Call out to Jesus and when HE asks you: "what do you want me to do for you?" tell Him what you want Him to do and believe that HE can do that very thing. Here is where we fall short, we believe HE can save us from hell but we somehow do not believe HE can fix us, or fix our marriages. The hardest thing to do in marriage is to lay down that utopian dream of a perfect marriage that you and your spouse create and accept the vision God has for your marriage. When HE asks what you want HIM to do for you cry out to HIM that your marriage needs a miracle and then believe HIM for the changes that will follow. Walk by faith, not by sight and have heart of complete obedience to the Word of God. Let your marriage... Be Biblical ATG |
AuthorAndy Goode is a Biblical Counselor and Pastor in Hattiesburg, MS. This blog is about strengthening marriages and providing biblical direction for everyday issues and sometimes just about leadership in general. Archives
September 2022
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