Marriage Advice
If you ever need advice on having a good healthy thriving marriage, you need only to go to our INVEST Couple’s Group each Monday. The couples in this group throughout the many years we have offered it are incredibly smart, very intentional and very transparent. They are all growing Christians knowing that the best advice for any relationship is found in God’s Word.
Last Monday we switched it up from our normal discussion and asked each couple to give their best marital advice. The reason? We have a special couple in our group (they’ve attended for the last 4 semesters!) who just got engaged! Here is a couple who have been attending groups to prepare for their future marriage even before they officially communicated they were heading in that direction! They are young, humble and very teachable. I learned from them that this group is GREAT for couples who are heading in the direction of marriage as well as couples who have been married for 50 years!
So we gave them each an opportunity and if you are in a relationship heading in that direction or you’re already married, you’re gonna want to read these:
CHRIST first always, then spouse, then children, etc.
Remember the love that got you here (the courting, the wooing, etc)
Serve together, attend groups together, read the Bible together
Never take each other for granted
Always gauge each other "How are we....really?"
Date often
It's OURS now, no longer MINE
Have the tough conversation now to avoid a much tougher one later
Avoid too much of a routine, be spontaneous.
Parenting is not an individual thing, it's always together and unified
Know each other's heart (they're not out to get you)
Talk about expectations (even when it seems obvious)
Don't sweat the small stuff (so they don't wash the dishes like you)
Everyone has baggage (open the suitcases and discuss)
Fight fair (no need to yell, walk away or pout)
Be vulnerable, transparent and even weird
This is YOUR person, same team, always
Recognize temperament - task oriented vs. people oriented
Never compare your relationship with others.
Neglect the world before you neglect each other
Race to the back of the line to serve
Grace and mercy always - assume the best in each other
Read the following books
I Said This, You Heard That Kathleen Edelman
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Love and War by John Eldridge
Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
As I often say and truly believe, marriage when both parties are following and pursuing Jesus Christ, is the closest thing to heaven on earth.