Press the Pause Button

Psalm 119:1-8 (NLT)

Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.



I have a dear friend (http://shapedtoserve.blogspot.com) who has great enthusiasm for Psalm 119. Her enthusiasm has motivated me. When I read the above eight verses, I saw many great truths and life principles. Psalm 119 is power packed! As I unpack these verses; I am going to focus on how Psalm 119 can change our marriages. (If you are reading this and you are unmarried, don’t dismiss this. The principles we will discover can impact your closest relationships)

We live in a culture that craves happiness like I crave a cool swimming pool on a hot, southern day. Happiness is about what I get whereas joyful is about who I am and what I do. The joyful person is a person of integrity; entirely in accord with truth and fact. (www.studylight.org) The joyful person is also a person who obeys and searches for God. Another way to explain “search” in verse 2 is “to consult”. (www.studylight.org) I love that! You may be wondering, what this has to do with my marriage.

What would your marriage and my marriage be like if we put these two verses into action? Happy marriages are good marriages but joyful marriages are the real thing. I desire the real thing! I desire to be a joyful wife. If I am to put that into practice then I choose to be a woman of integrity and follow the instructions of the Lord. What instructions? God has clearly instructed me to unconditionally respect my husband and be his helper. I am to submit to his leadership. I am not to make his life miserable or to make it more appealing to him that he live on the corner of the roof. (Proverbs 21:9) My tongue is to speak kindness and truth in love. (Proverbs 31:26)

Psalm 119:2 is where the rubber meets the road. This is the verse that applauds the person who knows how to press the pause button. Verse one is letting me know that the side effect of my choosing to follow God’s instruction (for my role in my marriage) is a joyful heart. On the other hand, verse 2, is stating that knowing how to press the pause button guarantees a joyful heart. You and I cannot seek God in a hurry. I mentioned earlier that another way to explain “search” is “to consult”. When we go for a consultation with a medical doctor, an employer, a contractor, or whoever it may be. Those type conversations are never hurried and all options are explored. When the consultation is over usually you walk away knowing what will work, what won’t work and if you need to come back for a follow-up. Either way, consulting takes time.

As women, we are emotional. The downside of that is we can be emotionally driven. Our words can be sharp. Our attitude can be isolating. Our body language can send hurtful messages. We need to press the pause button in those moments. The guarantee of a joyful marriage is to seek God with all of our hearts. When you and I pause to seek Him, we put aside our personal agenda and choose to listen. We consult the great I AM and we discover, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Doctrine: Pressing the pause button and consulting the Lord with all of my heart will show me TRUTH through His Word.

Reproof: Pressing the pause button will prove my motives and convict my heart in those areas that are wrong.

Correction: Pressing the pause button will restore my heart and lead to restoration in the broken areas of our marriage.

Instruction in Righteousness: Pressing the pause button will reveal areas in our marriage that need discipline.

So often, as women, we are tempted to act too quickly and emotionally in our marriage relationships. How do I know? I am a wife and I know my faults. Secondly, as a counselor, I hear this struggle repeated over and over in my office. Women and men desire a joyful marriage. How do we get to that place? We choose a marriage of integrity and we learn to press the pause button. I want to encourage you to begin being the spouse that “consults” the Lord on all issues and in all circumstances before you speak or take actions that will not guarantee a joyful marriage. Once you have pressed pause, dive into His Word seeking God’s truth, humble yourself when TRUTH convicts, open yourself to His restoring your heart and relationship, and choose godly disciplines that lead to abundant fruit. The fruit that God is wanting to grow in your marriage will impact the testimony of God’ grace and power.