“If happiness is our primary goal, we’ll get a divorce as soon as happiness wanes, & dump our spouse as soon as they're less attentive. But if we marry for the glory of God, to model His love & commitment, & reveal His witness to the world, divorce makes no sense.” (Gary Thomas)
"It happens. Life gets busy, schedules are hectic, and stress can overtake us. Come back together this weekend with intentional couple time to give your love a boost. Even one meaningful conversation with your [marriage] partner can make a big difference." (Gottman)
"When you begin the day talking about everything on your schedules that day or conclude it recapping everything that went on within it, there's no place in your head for those voices that enter so many, 'I wonder what he’s (she's) doing?' & trust is built." (Fawn Weaver)
“Is your marriage weak & tired? Pray over the burdens your spouse is carrying. Surrender your time & energy so they'll feel heard, valued & cared for. Thoughtfulness & kindness are powerful ways to refresh your marriage." (Teigen) See: marriagemissions.com/marriag…
“Be the best neighbor to your spouse! Treat your partner with respect, gratitude, gentleness, patience, kindness, humility, politeness, forgiveness. God’s command can be summed up in one word—love.” (Clark) “Do for others what you would like them to do for you.” (Matthew 7:12)
"Many spouses spend so much time capturing memories they forget to experience them. Sometimes the best memories are made when no one is documenting them. Ask yourself, 'Am I fully here right now?' If not, put the phone down & engage in what's happening in front of you." (Laffoon)
"Everyone who marries will encounter a season when the weight of the relationship ends up on his or her shoulders. Spouses get sick, distracted, or overworked, etc. Life happens, the weight shifts!" (Larson) Ask God for His insights, strength & leading during this difficult time.
"When your [spouse] makes bids for connection, turn towards them. Pay attention to what they say, practice small acts of kindness & courtesy, saying, 'please,' "thank you," & 'I'm sorry', to create mutual respect & appreciation, preventing negativity from taking root." (Gottman)
It's important after marrying to: "Expect that we're going to be changing in fundamental ways. Not just in 'I like this restaurant,' or 'My taste in magazines is shifting.' It can be deep changes in terms of who we are." (Peterson) We recommend you read: marriagemissions.com/longvie…
"Be completely honest. Don’t give even 99% of the truth. Admit & confess completely. One of the biggest challenges is when one spouse only admits parts of the truth. Over time, the rest of the truth comes out. It’s hard to rebuild trust when the details come out." (S Kedersha)
Be kind to your spouse within & outside of your home. "No matter how nice you are to people outside your home, the greatest test of your love as a Christian is the way you treat your spouse. ...It's all part of your walk with God." (Kay Gus)
"If communication breaks down or gets too heated, step away to collect your thoughts. This isn’t about punishing one another or shutting down communication. It’s wise to step back. You’ll be more effective at problem-solving if you’re not exhausted & over-stressed." (L&L Parrott)
"When you're married, your moods are not your own. When you're grumpy, it hurts your spouse, even if you don't grump at them. Likewise for anger, anxiety & depression. It's a marriage issue. Like it or not, you influence your spouse. Use that power for good!" (Byerly)
“Everyone who marries encounters seasons when the weight of the relationship ends up on his/her shoulders. Spouses get sick, distracted, overworked, etc. Life happens. The choices we make during difficult times are critical to the health of our marriage.” (Susie Larson)
"Instead of being hyper-focused on your [marriage] partner's mistakes, adopt a team mindset to shift the perspective from blame to cooperation. When challenges arise, approach them as a united front, seeking solutions together rather than engaging in the blame game." (Gottman)
“I have known many happy marriages, but never a compatible one. …For a man and a woman, as such, are incompatible.” (C. K. Chesterton) But as you work to "marry" your differences, you can build compatibility into your relationship. See: marriagemissions.com/incompa…
"You're married to a flawed person & so is your mate. You can choose to focus on your partner's deficiencies or on his or her strengths. Even in the middle of a disagreement, remind yourself of the admirable traits that led you to marry this person." (R&J Lauer)
"It’s too easy to let screen time grow, so this is a friendly reminder: if you feel frustrated with God & your spouse, rightly deal it. Do something different by cutting down on the screen time, recalibrating your mind & reading the Bible more. Reach a bit higher." (Gary Thomas)
"We're all different, so what we need for marriage differs. My bride doesn't need romantic acts. But some women would die inside without them; some thrive on gifts, while others see them as silly & so on. Love gives what's needed & stretches if that's what it takes." (PB)