Friday, October 14, 2011

Marriages That Thrive


Chapter 14
   You want to have a marriage which thrives and lasts a life time. If you are the only one working on your relationship, you can still make significant progress enhancing the connection between you and your husband. As you strive to improve the bond you have with your man, God will come along side you, guiding and supporting you-if you allow Him. God designed marriage and wants yours to succeed.
  In the thirteen newsletters we have looked at numerous aspects of building a Love That Lasts. Let’s take a quick review.
   Leave your singleness behind and start a new life together as a couple. God wants couples to stay united for a life time developing a unique bond between them like no other on earth.
    Deepen your knowledge of God and trust Him with every area of your life. Listen to His guidance and follow His principles for love in your relationship. Couples who pray together stay together. Set aside the time to pray for and with your spouse.            
   Do all you can to maintain your health. As my mother used to say, “Keep getting it fixed Honey, it’s worth it.” Make sure you eat healthy food, exercise regularly, get plenty of rest and see your doctor for regular checkups. Taking care of yourself will provide more energy to enjoy time with your husband.
    Accept your man as God’s gift for you to love and cherish. Don’t try to change him, but instead  admire him as you become his best friend and lover. Become the woman he wants to spend time with and join him in activities he enjoys.  Frequently tell your guy what you like about his body, personality and how he provides for you.  Be the one to give him praise and don’t encourage him to listen to compliments from another woman.
   Adapt to your man’s way of doing things and follow his lead. Be an influence for good in his life letting your ideas be known and then trust God to lead you through your husband. Remember, don’t break any laws or tolerate physical or sexual abuse.
Set aside plenty of time for honest, open communication between you and your spouse. Give each other the “Floor” when talking and listen to understand.
   Keep dating. Take the initiative planning leisure pursuits you both like or alternate; one week join him doing an activity he enjoys and the next week plan one you find fun.  Arrange for a sitter or exchange watching the children with a good friend. Designate a little money each month for your weekly dates and save ten to twenty dollars per month for an annual getaway.
   Start your crockpot early and often.  Intimacy, spelled S-E-X, is a very real need, not a want for the man in your life. Without this close personal time marriages seldom last or remain healthy. Read good Christian books on sexual intimacy to answer your questions and find creative ideas for keeping the spark alive.           
  In order to thrive, a marriage like any other living thing needs time and attention.
Through God’s power, strength and wisdom, you can develop a joyful relationship with your husband which is full of wonderful memories; a love that lasts. 

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