Help for Your Marriage

You may be tired of reading it by now (if you're going to read my blog, then you'll read it again and again), but I learned a few truths about marriage over the past year. When my marriage went south, I had to reevaluate it. What I thought was normal wasn't. I had to change my thinking completely; Justin did, too. With advice and counsel from others, Justin and I have consistently added some positive characteristics to our marriage that previously we didn't value like we should. Here they are:

1. Pray together. I don't mean just at meals either. Pray for common interests and goals. If you have children, pray for them. Most importantly, pray for your marriage together. There's nothing like baring your soul before your Creator and your mate. Justin and I often failed in this area. We told each other for what we were praying or shared prayer requests, but that lacked the intimacy that praying together brings.

2. Read together. The Bible is a good place to start, but you should do that individually more than together. Justin and I did this off and on, but now we have added Christian books about marriage to our reading list. Here are two good marriage strengtheners we've enjoyed reading to each other: Sacred Marriage and Devotions for a Sacred Marriage. There are many others out there too. Explore together!

3. Spend time together. Unplug from everything and pay attention to each other. Sitting in a room at the same time doesn't count because chances are you are both on your computer or phone or watching television, etc. Earlier in our marriage, we often spent time together on the weekends, but it was full of distractions and unnecessary interruptions. Now, Justin and I will sit in our chairs, hold hands, and watch the kids play. It's lots of fun not being distracted by electronics of any kind.

4. Go to bed together. (And I'm not talking about what you're thinking, but that's good to do, too!) Go to bed at the same time. Justin and I were always so busy with work we brought home or crying kids that this wasn't a priority. Now that it is, we have some edifying conversations. Pillow talk is good stuff!

If you make the above four things priorities in your relationship, you will see a difference in your marriage. You may think your marriage is just fine the way it is. I did, too. Today, I know otherwise.