A marriage is harder when we expect each other to intuitively “know” what we are needing or thinking. However, as humans neither one of us is a mind-reader. Therefore, it is necessary for us to communicate to one another what we need, as well as the negative emotions that our mate’s words or behavior enlists in our soul.
If not addressed, these negative issues grow larger with each lie the devil whispers to our soul. We make assumptions and jump to conclusions that are often not even true. They erode our relationship and cause bitterness to grow in our soul.
Finding a relaxed time, making an appointment to chat, or having a weekly casual time together where we can bring up our dreams or our grievances will help us to keep a smooth relationship and allow us to clean up our thoughts and emotions to restore our love, commitment, and enjoyment of each other in our life.
Many businesses allow employees to take one of their vacation days, or a personal day, which we can use as a time to rendezvous with our mate for the purpose of deep cleaning our connection as a couple. Then, we can do something together just to enjoy each other’s company.
Spending an hour or more together during a day doing something fun and relaxing can make all the difference in our relationship. This keeps the chaos of life from interfering with our intimacy as a couple, teaches us things about one another that we never realized before, and increases our admiration of each other’s strengths.
Even taking an evening stroll around the block, or sitting in the backyard in lawn chairs, or swinging together in the porch swing after the children go to sleep will give us time alone without needing to hire a babysitter, since we will only be gone a few moments or within calling distance if they need our help.
Satan will attempt to sabotage our relationship in any way that he can. We are in constant spiritual warfare as a family unless we remain in constant prayer and keep our connection under our close observation. As we draw near to God, Satan must flee from our midst (James 4:7).
Prayer:
Father God, help us to rely on Your wisdom and strength in our weak areas, and to admit that we are reliant on You to succeed as a couple. Your power is made evident in our weakness. Dependence on You is not a flaw, but a strength, because it increases our willingness to walk in Your Spirit (Galatians 15-26).
You often remind us that Your grace is sufficient to see us through our trials and strengthens our resolve to keep our marital ties strong and healthy (2 Corinthians 12:9). We meet our own needs or ask for help from our mate, but we also prefer our mate above our self. Most importantly, teach us to pray together and to walk in Your Spirit each moment of every day.
Thought for the Day:
We can revitalize our marriage by considering the needs of our mate throughout the day, lightening their load of burdens in any way that we are able, and praying together for God’s intervention in areas where we are unequipped to help each other; giving aid to each other from a motive of love is much more meaningful than serving out of duty or obligation.
