Bible Text: Hosea 1:2-3; 2:5-8, 14-16; 3:1-5 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Marriage Matters
The Will Power of Commitment
A Picture of God’s Love
Hosea 1:2-3; 2:5-8, 14-16; 3:1-5:
How is God’s commitment portrayed by Hosea?
How does this apply to your commitment in marriage?
How do you think Gomer viewed Hosea after reconciliation?
How did this affect the overall resiliency of their marriage?
Hosea 1:2 The LORD said to Hosea: Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD (7) Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen
Hosea 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans…(5) Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.
Becoming Stronger From The Times Of Testing
Commitment produces the perseverance through the turbulent times that develops a resilient spirit…and a resilient marriage
Model of Resiliency
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Bonding
Cohesion
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Crisis
Destabilization
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Action Plan
Mobilization
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New Normal
Adaptation
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Commitment transforms hardships into building blocks for positive changes in your relationship
Model of Resiliency
Stage one:  Bonding (Cohesion)
Cohesion is defined as the emotional bonding
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Rigidity
Inflexible
Control
Power
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Flexible Structure
(Grace)
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Chaos
Disengaged
Don’t care
No boundaries
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Model of Resiliency
Stage two: Crisis (Destabilization)
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The Amount of Change
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The Stressor Event
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The Amount of Crisis in the Marital or Family System
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The Family or Marital Crisis Meeting Resources
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The marriage or family’s definition of the seriousness of the changes
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Model of Resiliency
Until the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change, old patterns often remain.
For better or for worse, marriages have a built-in resistance to change.
Stage 3: Action Plan (Mobilization Resources)
Spiritual
Personal
Relational
Community
Stage 4: New Normal (Adaptation)
Assess what you need to retain and attain
Establish a new normal (routine)
Form connections of meaningful relationships
Model of Resiliency
Stage four:  New Normal (Adaptation)
In order to adapt in a positive manner we need to do the following:
Assess what you need to attain that is new and what you want to retain from the old.
Form new connections that foster meaningful relationships.
Friends sharpen friends like iron sharpens iron
Establish new patterns that preserve, promote our core values
Putting Your Commitment Into Action
Commitment is more than a life-long pledge. It is a daily promise to fulfill the needs and desires of your partner.
A Life of Commitment
Romans 12:9-18
A commitment to your spouse makes you desire to “bless” him or her on a daily basis.