Jimmy Evans - 7 Secrets of Successful Families: Understanding What Happy, Functional Families Have in Common

THE SEVEN SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES

Marriage Today PO Box 59888

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XO Publishing

Copyright 2001, 2004, 2008 by Marriage Today. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher, except brief passages for purpose of reviews.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references and quotations are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1979, 1980, 1982.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001118790

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Printed in the United States of America

I dedicate this book with great affection to my wife, Karen. For over 35 years of our relationship, Karen has been my friend, prayer partner, and example of Christ-like love. Her walk with God and commitment to me and our children have been an inspiration and source of great strength.

I extend the dedication of this book also to the wives and mothers who, like Karen, have sacrificed and prayed for their families. May the tears and prayers of the precious women of this generation and those before us result in a genuine move of God to heal and restore the families of America today and in the generations to come.

I appreciate the assistance and support of so many special people in helping to make this book possible. The board of directors of MarriageToday have been a source of wisdom and encouragement to me.

I also want to express my grateful appreciation to Donna Griffin, Kimberly Fritts, and Kelli Bullard for their patience and professional help in preparing and proofing the manuscript. You always go beyond the call of duty to serve me and the Lord with excellence.

The family is Gods creation. He designed it to be a reflection of His nature, an extension of His authority, and a custodian of the culture of His Kingdom.

The family is the most essential and most noble of all human institutions. It is the cell that produces life for the social soul. When families are healthy and successful, society prospers at every level. When families are weak or torn apart, the foundations of every other human institution shake and eventually crumble. History and our culture today prove this point. Also proved is the fact that nothing can replace the family designed by Godnot government, not schools, not redefined familiesnothing!

From the first days of creation, Satan has attacked families with an unholy vengeance. He persists today, knowing that if he wages a successful campaign against the family, he can sabotage Gods purposes and keep them from being accomplished in our lives. Satan views hurting, dysfunctional families as trophies in his war against God. The more he collects, the more he celebrates certain victory. Surely, as he scans the social horizon of America today, he is congratulating himself and his evil underlings for the severe damage they have inflicted upon the family.

Satan isnt the only one who understands the strategic importance of family. God has instituted a plan that depends upon the wholeness and proper functioning of marriages and families. Therefore, with all the authority of heaven and earth, He fights for the family. In America today, God delivers a standard of truth to those who are ignorant, a message of forgiveness for those who have failed, and a heart of compassion for those who have been wounded in the fight. God, not Satan, will win this war; and in the end, the family will be redeemed to accomplish Gods original purpose.

I have written this book with the belief that God has led me to do so. I pray that it will be helpful to those who are seeking Gods will for their families. Regardless of whether you have a good family and are desiring greater satisfaction, or you are coming from a failed and dysfunctional environment, I believe the contents of this book will help you.

The following chapters explain seven essential traits of a happy, successful family. I truly believe these key areas represent Biblical, universal truths that properly reflect Gods design for every family, regardless of those factors that distinguish individuals. As you read, I hope you will observe and be encouraged by the fact that even though failure and dysfunction are common among families today, they are preventable and reversible. Family success has nothing to do with luck or fate and has everything to do with obedience and submission to God and His eternal truths. Therefore, any person who is willing to follow Gods pattern for family life will succeed. Thats good news!

Regardless of who we are, how badly weve failed, how deeply weve been hurt, or the condition of our lives today, God has the power to heal us, transform us, and guide us to paths of life. I pray that the contents of this book will be used by God to further these purposes in your life and family.

Jimmy Evans