Setting Goals for Your Marriage
ICS Daily Devotions
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NKJV) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
For believers, every marriage should have the vision and goal of growing closer to God. The three-strand cord represents God holding us strongly together as a married couple.
Agape love is the kind of love that will sustain the marriage because God is in the relationship. Agape love flows out of our heart, or spirit man, which has the nature of God. The nature of God is love—Agape love which is unconditional love. A marriage with God in it resembles a triangle where the couple is at the bottom of the triangle. Their love for each other will strengthen as they draw closer to God, who is at the Apex of the triangle.
God has to be part of the Christian marriage, and we are to love one another based on His love for us. As Christians, we take time to befriend each other with Phileo love. Agape love should be taught and practised in our daily living, and we climax with Eros love, which is our sensual expression.
A successful and fulfilling marriage does not just happen but requires both persons to work on it intentionally. So, what goals would you like to set for your marriage? These goals should be reasonable, realistic, attainable, and have a time limit. Some examples are:
- We will not hold grudges.
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. - We will speak words that edify.
Romans 14:19 (NKJV) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. - We will improve our sexual relationship.
1 Corinthians 7:3-6 (NKJV) Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. - We will pray for each other and pray together daily.
- We will learn to be more flexible.
- We will see things from the other’s perspective, giving ourselves two years to accomplish this.
- We will work on trusting each other more.
Sermon Series: Before You Say I Do
