I’ve heard great things about this movie and decided with the kids gone, now would be a good time to finally watch it.
What stuck out most to me was how Tony hit rock bottom before he changed, and it was all from the natural consequences of his own choices. He too had the “perfect” life at home, and a wife he never felt was good enough. He too was a master of sales, but felt the need for deception.
The thing is, I’ve been waging war in prayer my entire marriage. I’m not going to go down the rabbit hole with “Why.” I know He heard every prayer. My husband ignored any stumbling blocks God may have put in his way to prevent his sinful choices. Or rather, he chose to go around them and do them anyway.
I don’t blame God. Perhaps those prayers are what sustained our marriage for as long as it’s been. Perhaps that’s what kept things from getting violent. I don’t doubt that if he’d married anyone else, it would have been ugly, and the marriage over in a year. Perhaps those prayers made two amazing kids possible.
Here are a few key phrases that stuck out to me, probably because they’re what I’ve been saying to myself for a long time already.
- 22:00 — It wasn’t my job to do the heavy lifting, oh no! That was something that only HE could do. It was my job to seek Him, to trust Him, and to stand on His Word.
- 28:04–57 — You’re fighting the wrong enemy… who said it’s your responsibility to fix Tony? It’s your job to love him, to respect him, and to pray for the man. God knows he needs it. You got to plead with God so that He can do what only He can do. And then you got to get out of the way and let Him do it.
- Forgiveness frees you. God is a good defense attorney.
- 49:00–51:21 — I’m not his judge, You are. Don’t let him do this. Take over. Help him love me again. He’s doing something wrong. Don’t let him get away with it. Stand in his way. I’m asking You please, to help me.
I think it’d be interesting to see the verses used in both women’s war rooms. They’re likely in the Battle Plan Prayer Journal and Prayer Cards. There’s also a devotional based on the movie in the YouVersion app.
John 10:10 (ESV) — The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) — The Lord is faithful. He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
James 4:7 (NIV) — Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.