Marriage is a divine institution, not just a human state of being. God instituted it–– it didn’t just happen in human history. God planned the participants and he executed His plan. His plan has two stated purposes: companionship and procreation (see Genesis 1:27&28 and Genesis 2:18). But in order to fulfil these two purposes there are underlying requirements.
When God brought Eve to Adam they were totally unknown to each other. They had to discover who they were in relation to each other. In essence, God brought two total strangers together and blessed them and set them on the path to companionship and procreation. And this is also true of marriages today. We may think we know each other when we get married, but it is only after marriage that the real discovery process begins.
Marriage is a committed relationship, and God’s intention is that we learn to love and care for each other amidst all the challenges of life. As one author has said “We never know whom we marry; we just think we do. Or even if we first marry the right person, just give it a while and he or she will change. For marriage, being [the enormous thing it is] means we are not the same person after we have entered it. The primary problem is . . . learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married.”
“The marriage relationship is unique and is the most deeply covenantal relationship possible between two human beings. The day you wedded your spouse you stood before God, your family, and all the main institutions of society, and you promised to be loving, faithful, and true to the other person in the future, regardless of undulating internal feelings or external circumstances.”
PRAYER
Dear God, it’s easy to question the purpose and direction of our relationship when things are difficult. It’s especially easy if the difficulties cause any kind of discomfort in the home, financial loss of some sort, or inconvenience. All too often these difficulties can lead to doubt. And doubt can lead to division as we question each other and Your purpose in each of our lives.
Lord, help us to fully commit to seeing You carry out Your purpose for both of us as individuals and for us together as a couple in Your timing. Give us the grace of patience when things don’t seem to be falling into place. Help us to remember that we are to serve each other in humility, encouragement, and mutual understanding.
Help us to complement each other, to lift each other up in faith, whether by praying, or by speaking words of encouragement, or by simply refusing to complain when things seem to go wrong on this journey toward purpose. Between the two of us, help us to balance each other out so that our faith remains strong. In Jesus’ name, amen.
POWER TOOLS
Gen 1:27&28 So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Gen 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a companion that is a suitable match for him."
Gen 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.
ACTION STEP
Remind each other the vows you both took on the day of your wedding and the promise you made to each other at the ‘Couples Getaway’. Going back to the start always helps. Go on a date this week and enjoy each other like it’s your first date.
When God brought Eve to Adam they were totally unknown to each other. They had to discover who they were in relation to each other. In essence, God brought two total strangers together and blessed them and set them on the path to companionship and procreation. And this is also true of marriages today. We may think we know each other when we get married, but it is only after marriage that the real discovery process begins.
Marriage is a committed relationship, and God’s intention is that we learn to love and care for each other amidst all the challenges of life. As one author has said “We never know whom we marry; we just think we do. Or even if we first marry the right person, just give it a while and he or she will change. For marriage, being [the enormous thing it is] means we are not the same person after we have entered it. The primary problem is . . . learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married.”
“The marriage relationship is unique and is the most deeply covenantal relationship possible between two human beings. The day you wedded your spouse you stood before God, your family, and all the main institutions of society, and you promised to be loving, faithful, and true to the other person in the future, regardless of undulating internal feelings or external circumstances.”
PRAYER
Dear God, it’s easy to question the purpose and direction of our relationship when things are difficult. It’s especially easy if the difficulties cause any kind of discomfort in the home, financial loss of some sort, or inconvenience. All too often these difficulties can lead to doubt. And doubt can lead to division as we question each other and Your purpose in each of our lives.
Lord, help us to fully commit to seeing You carry out Your purpose for both of us as individuals and for us together as a couple in Your timing. Give us the grace of patience when things don’t seem to be falling into place. Help us to remember that we are to serve each other in humility, encouragement, and mutual understanding.
Help us to complement each other, to lift each other up in faith, whether by praying, or by speaking words of encouragement, or by simply refusing to complain when things seem to go wrong on this journey toward purpose. Between the two of us, help us to balance each other out so that our faith remains strong. In Jesus’ name, amen.
POWER TOOLS
Gen 1:27&28 So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Gen 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a companion that is a suitable match for him."
Gen 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.
ACTION STEP
Remind each other the vows you both took on the day of your wedding and the promise you made to each other at the ‘Couples Getaway’. Going back to the start always helps. Go on a date this week and enjoy each other like it’s your first date.