The “Trojan Horse” influence on marriage

According to Wikipedia, “Trojan Horse refers to a wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks, during the Trojan War, to enter the city of Troy and win the war… In ‘Aeneid’ by Virgil, after a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks, at the behest of Odysseus, constructed a huge wooden horse and hid a select force of men inside, including Odysseus himself. The Greeks pretended to sail away, and the Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night, the Greek force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the Greek army, which had sailed back under cover of night. The Greeks entered and destroyed the city of Troy, ending the war.”

Metaphorically, a “Trojan Horse” has come to mean any trick or ploy that causes a target to invite a foe into a securely protected bastion or place. A malicious computer program that tricks users into willingly running it is also called a “Trojan Horse” or simply a “Trojan.”

This is a perfect segue into this week’s column. Our articles are primarily geared toward married couples, and while this one is no different, we hope it will encourage everyone who reads it—despite your relationship status—to take charge of your “thought life.”

In Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), the Bible emphatically declares, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Additionally, in Proverbs 28:26, we learn, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”

The Lord desires that we live in godly liberty, mental stability and affluence. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV) reiterates that as it states, “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live; and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.”

Wives… husbands, what do you think of yourselves? What do you think of your spouse? What do you think about your covenant? Be honest, because if your married life doesn’t bear a strong resemblance of Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, you may need to take a close look at your thoughts. Our thought-life can greatly affect our married life. Thoughts are very powerful mechanisms, because whether we realize it or not, they are what we use to either create happiness and prosperity, or misery and poverty.

Your thoughts are within your power of choice. Yes, you can choose your thoughts. Not a single person can put a thought in your mind without your authorization. What Trojan Horse filled with the tricks of the enemy are you ALLOWING to infiltrate your mind and be used to destroy the harmony and/or sanctity of your marriage?

You are the steward of your thoughts. You’re in charge of them. Therefore, you are completely capable of choosing to only embrace those which will bring you the results you want. Many mouths of wisdom have echoed the power of thought-life.

“As a man thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.” (English Philosopher James Allen)

“A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” (Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius)

“A man is what he thinks about all day long.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet and philosopher)

“We become what we think about. (Earl Nightingale, author)

“Life consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that is forever flowing through one’s head.” (Mark Twain, writer and lecturer)

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” (Pastor Norman Vincent Peele)

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ – Philippians 4:8)

Our thoughts affect us internally first, and then they manifest in our external selves. How we think impact our actions as well as our reactions. If you want to change what you do, change how you think. In marriage, the very thoughts running through our minds can either help to manifest the life of our dreams or lead us to destroy the very thing that God has blessed.

“Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you a new person” (Ephesians 4:23-24, CEV).

Drs. Michael & Kendra Holmes are the pastors of Deliverance Revival Church in Warner Robins, Ga., the founders of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC, the authors of the 31-day devotional, “Cross-Fire: Igniting Passionate, Purposeful, and Powerful Relationships” and the founders of the faith-based newspaper, The Royal Trumpet. W.A.R. is an acronym for “We Are Royalty,” ™ the official slogan of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC. Visit the website at www.RoyaltyRelationshipCoaching.

HHJ News