It’s time for our weekly conversation cum teaching, and our topic is *”Bearing Each Other’s Yoke”. If you have been married for more than 1 year you will notice that marriage has a lot of responsibilities that we discover along the way. This responsibilities can be called yoke/burdens.

Every successful married couple knows that marriage thrives best when we embrace the good and the not so good that comes with marrying the one you are with. Now we are not talking about self-inflicted yoke like cheating, lying, stealing, etc. These are under your control, and you can choose to work on it.

Rather, we are looking at yokes from your past, present, family pattern, sexual relationship, spiritual covenants, social status, etc.Let’s take a closer look into these common yokes and how to handle them as a couple:

1. Family pattern is a common issue seen from family to family and generation to generation. Some families have issues with childbearing, early death, divorce, and inability to prosper.
This should have been discussed before marriage. As a married couple, you both have come together to identify and agree to prayerfully take the right action forward. Isaac and Rebecca are a good example of family pattern issues and how to resolve it.  What negative family pattern do you and your spouse need to address?

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25:21‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
[21] And Isaac prayed much to the Lord for his wife because she was unable to bear children; and the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife became pregnant.

2. Multiple sexual partners is a rampant issue in this generation.  Most couples before getting married have had several sexual partners. This has led to many carrying harmful baggage which can cause harm in marriage if not properly addressed.

Are there sexual habits that are negatively affecting your marriage, like pornography addiction, masturbation, etc. There are issues we should bring to the table before marriage. But if one is married, we should find a way to address these situations with your spouse and seek help, too.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:25‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
[25] And the man and his wife were both naked and were not embarrassed or ashamed in each other’s presence.

NOTE: If your spouse comes to you for help, do not despise or disrespect them. Rather, you both should remember that you are called to help each other bear the burden of life.

3. Do you know that spiritual covenants are agreements knowingly or unknowingly made by our forefathers and parents, on our behalf? These spiritual covenants usually have a negative effect on those who no longer worship or adhere to its rules and regulations.

• Have you identified the spiritual covenants that are affecting your family lineage/home?
• Let your spouse identified theirs too.
• What are the strategies you are putting in place for these covenants not to have an effect on your home/marriage/family?

There are a lot of yokes cum burdens that comes with marriage but our ability to be transparent, accountable, and prayerful with one’s partner makes it all work easier and at the end worth it.

It’s time we come together to break these yokes.
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Love,
Ngee and Rich
(Ngozi and Dr. Richard  Okonkwo)
Relationship Coach/Habit Instructors
Founders – Keeping Marriage Alive Initiative

“Will two people walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” Amos 3:3.