Teresa Odden

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Scented Candles Dream

In this dream, a newly married couple are coming to our home (Jordan and mine) to spend the night. I notice our bedroom is not so romantic for them. I wanted to create a pleasant atmosphere and thought it would be nice to light some scented candles to give the room a special touch. End of dream.

Interpretation:

One meaning of this dream depicts how a little effort (lighting the candles) can change the atmosphere in one’s home. It takes effort to keep a marriage alive and burning with romance and excitement.

After a few years of marriage, couples tend to discover it isn’t as exciting as the dating years. Marriage isn’t what they had originally thought it would be. The romance begins to fade and many go through a boring stage.

My husband, Jordan, and I went through a similar stage once the “newlywed” phase wore off. The more comfortable we got with one another, the less efforts we made to keep the spark alive in our relationship.

By this picture, the Lord revealed to me about the importance of keeping the “candle” burning in my marriage. By doing so, the Lord will renew our marriage day-by-day.

We’ve learned part of those efforts are romancing one another the way we did when we were dating. We don’t have to remain in this comfortable, less than romantic “room” as the dream depicts. We sought God to make our marriage vibrant and we have seen the hand of God do just that.

I Peter 3:1-6 talks about how to be a godly wife. When I had this dream I felt like the Lord was asking me to be submissive to God and my husband and to pursue God in such a way that will impact my husband's life.

The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as a light or a flame. Revelations 4:5

It is with the help of the Holy Spirit we can keep our flame burning for one another. It is only through the Lord’s help I can be the kind of supportive wife God wants me to be for Jordan.

The change that shifted our marriage was when we began consistently praying and reading our Bibles together.

Scripture uses a candle to represent being a witness for Christ. The newlywed couple in the dream symbolizes that Jordan and I can be used to help others who are experiencing challenges in their marriage. What we have learned to spark our marriage can encourage others, but we must be willing to let them into our “home,” our lives, and share our own struggles. It is only through the Lord’s help that we can shine our light on what a godly marriage can look like. We are to “light our candle,” and be a witness.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:14-16

In Genesis 26:8, Isaac and Rebekah were in Egypt and they were seen outside having fun together. In other words, their romance was still alive. It wasn’t a marriage of sacrifice or duty, it was something more. A relationship of love, respect, joy, and friendship. “But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.”

Marriage is something God has given us to enjoy. It’s meant to flourish. It is about the love between two people and living as one in Christ Jesus. With Christ, we can overcome the challenges thrown our way and build a life together as God designed marriage to be. Marriage doesn’t have to be boring and unromantic.

Marriage takes work and just like the dream depicts, many times it’s the little things that bring back the spark and make it new again.  

In Ephesians 4:2-6 (NLT and MSG), Paul provides some ways you can make  efforts to having a vibrant marriage:

  1. Humility: Admit when you are wrong. It’s not important to have the last word.

  2. Gentleness: Behave in a gentle manner.

  3. Steady patience

  4. Giving of yourself

  5. Quick to notice differences and mend fences.

  6. Travel together. Stay together.

  7. Never give up. Living through it all.

  8. Oneness: “Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” MSG

  9. United in one belief - Christ Jesus

Galatians 5:22-23 and I Corinthians 13:4-8 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.” Ephesians 4:2-6

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