BookClub- The Love Dare by Alex and Stephen Kendrick Day 23

Dear BookClub reader, welcome to day 23 of this book 'THE LOVE DARE'. The Love Dare is a non-fiction marriage-related book written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. It is a 40-day Christian devotional designed to strengthen marriages. Click to view day 1, 2, 3 ,4 , 5 , 6, 7 ,  8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ,12 , 13,14, 15,16, 17 18 19, 20 21 22
For this book reading, each day will contain three very important element;
First, a unique aspect of love will be discussed.

Second, you will be given a specific dare to do for your spouse.

Last, you will need a journal to log what you are learning and doing and how your spouse is responding by answering the 'question of the day'. These note will record your progress and should become priceless to you in the future.

The entire book will not be published but every chapter will be previewed and I strongly recommend that you get a hard copy for future references.

Ensure that you do not miss any part of this book reading. Enjoy!

DAY 17: Love always protects

[Love] always protects.
—1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV

Marriage is made up of many things, including joys, sorrows, successes, and failures. But when you think about what you want marriage to be like, the furthest thing from your mind is a battleground. However, there are some battles you should be more than willing to fight. These are battles that pertain to protecting your spouse.

It's a battle you must wage to protect your marriage- when love puts on armor and picks up a sword to defend its own. Your mate and your marriage need your constant protection from things like:

Harmful influences. Are you allowing certain habits to poison your home? The same thing goes for work schedules that keep you separated from each other for unhealthy amounts of time. You can't protect your home when you are rarely there, nor when you're relatively disconnected. You have to fight to keep the balance right.

Unhealthy relationships. Not everyone has the material to be a good friend. In fact, anyone who undermines your marriage does not deserve to be given the title of "friend". And certainly you must guard at all times from allowing opposite sex relationships at work, the gym, or even the church to draw you emotionally away from the one whom you've already given your heart.

Shame. Everyone deals with some level of inferiority and weaknesses. And because marriage has a way of exposing it all to you and your mate, you need to protect your wife or husband's vulnerability by never speaking negatively about them in public.

Parasites. Watch out for parasites. They're usually in the form of addictions, like gambling, drugs, or pornography. They steal away your loyalty and heart from those you love. marriage rarely survives if parasites are present. If you love your spouse, you must destroy any addiction that has your heart. If you don't, it will destroy you.

TODAY’S DARE

Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influence that’s stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.

QUESTION OF THE DAY
What did you throw out first? Are there others that need to go as well? What do you hope the removal of these things will do for you, your marriage, and your relationship with God?

Read also: BookClub- How You can Be Led by the Spirit of God- Kenneth E Hagins