Marriage Monday - Love Dare 32

"The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband." 1 Corinthians 7:3

As we continue our journey of The Love Dare, today will discuss a sensitive area of marriage, sex.  We already know that men and women are completely different in how they view intimacy.  Sex with our spouse, although just one aspect of marriage, is very important.  It creates that oneness with our husband that we can have with no one else.

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."  Genesis 2:24

When we marry, our body is no longer our own, but our husband's.  "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." 1 Corinthians 7:4  Our body belongs to our husband.  It is for his pleasure.  While we know that women and men see sex differently, we have to understand that the Word tells us our body is his.

Sex is not to be used as a bargaining chip.  It is not something God allows us to withhold without consequence.  Though there can certainly be abuses to this divinely designed framework, the heart of marriage is one of giving ourselves to each other to meet the other's needs.  "Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.  Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." 1 Corinthians 7:5  We should not withhold sex from our husband.  God created sex for married couples and it is good.  God created men to be attracted to the female body.  Ladies, our husbands are not supposed to look at other women.  They are not supposed to have physical contact with other women.  Yet when we withhold sex from them, Satan comes in and tempts them with other women.  No matter how strong a man is in his faith, Satan works and tempts and works and tempts.  And the more we withhold the stronger that temptation gets.  The Word even tells us to not withhold other than for mutual agreement for a time of prayer, but then we are to come back together as one.

If you allow distance to grow between you in this area, of you allow staleness to set in, you are taking something that rightly (and exclusively) belongs to your spouse.  We need to regularly come together as one with our husband.  This should be a priority in our marriage.

Today's Dare:
If at all possible, try to initiate sex with your husband today.  Do this in a way that honors what your spouse has told you (or implied to you) about what they need from you sexually.  Ask God to make this enjoyable for both of you as well as a path to greater intimacy.

Sweet Blessings~