A Message From a Shepherd

Planting Hedges

I am so blessed to have a father who is continually passing me great books that have helped him in his walk with Jesus through the years.  The most recent book he gave me is entitled, Hedges, “Loving your Marriage Enough to Protect It” by Jerry B. Jenkins.  This book has been a great encouragement to me and Shawna. 
      The idea of planting hedges around your marriage is often looked at as a bit ridiculous when you hear the extremes Jenkins will go to to protect his marriage.  Things like never riding in a car with another female that is not his wife or close relative.  When he goes on business trips he asks the front desk to turn off the adult channels and movie channels in his hotel room before he even goes up there.  Also, on business trips he always travels with at least two others, never with a
female co-worker alone.  He will go to great lengths to avoid the slightest appearance of infidelity.  You see, Jenkins loves his wife so much that he will often risk embarrassing himself by having such outrageous standards, but his wife loves him for it. 
     What hedges do you need to plant in your life to protect your marriage and family? In your line of work where is Satan attacking? 
Today we live in a world that is becoming more and more okay with infidelity.  Our media desensitizes us from commercials to sitcoms to movies.  If this is a new idea for you, please pray that God will open your eyes to the areas in your life that need hedges.   Paul urges us in  
I Corinthians 6:18 to “flee from sexual immorality.”  These hedges will not only help us flee from sexual immorality but they will also give great strength to our marriages.  Husbands, the confidence that hedges will give to your wives is priceless. Wives, the hedges you plant will make him feel like your knight in shining armor.   I pray that this will bless your life as it has mine.

—Will Tucker