Christian Living
Today is my 21st wedding anniversary and it’s my joy to share these 4 tips for better marriage. Hope some of it helps…
1. Enjoy a Good Courtship
Courtship periods are not just for romantic adventures, they also serve as opportunities for ascertaining compatibility. When done well, courtship helps build a close bond of friendship. It’s helpful to have some period of courtship before marriage.
2. Have a strong friendship bond
Aside from courtship, friendship in marriage should be encouraged because sometimes it can be the tiny string that holds things together for awhile.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.“
Proverbs 17:17 NKJV.
Again, courtship period is a good time to lay solid friendship foundation for your marriage.
3. Forgive freely
After the very exciting early years of marriage, couples begin to find out things about each other that weren’t apparent earlier. You may think you know your spouse after 5 or 10 years of marriage, you really don’t. Pleasant and unpleasant attributes unfold as the married years progresses. While it’s possible for some people to pretend to be something different others will be genuinely finding out things about themselves with time.
Hurts will happen and if not properly handled, hurts quickly lead to bitterness and resentment. Both outcomes are unhealthy physically and spiritually.
Make a commitment to yourself to forgive freely, whether you’re the one at fault or not. Choose to deal with the unpleasant issues in your marriage with a clean heart devoid of hatred and bitterness. Dealing in God’s love is better for one’s general wellbeing.
One of the expressions of true love is that it keeps no record of wrongs….
"It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
4. Deal with your Spouse In the Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is not about approaching Him with fear and trembling. It is about reverencing Him and putting Him first.
If you can frankly and sincerely answer the question “what would God want me to do?” especially in very difficult situations in your marriage, you’ll find yourself often responding in the WISDOM of God.
And even though the responses you give in some of these situations would not be your ‘natural humanly response’, they will bring peace and calmness to your marriage.
“Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10 ERV
I pray you continue to enjoy blissful days in your marriage relationship. Amen!
