I Vow: Have Fun, Day 5

Read Revelation 2:4-5, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Do you remember what it was like when you first met your spouse and the indescribable feelings you had at that time? Do you still have those same feelings today that you did then? Chances are your feelings are still strong for your spouse, but probably not at the same intensity they were in the early days. To get what you once had, you have to do what you once did. Think back to the romantic things you did in the early days and strive to bring those back into your marriage.

Talk: Share with your spouse the top five things you love most about them.

Pray: Thank God for all the fun you’ve had in your marriage and ask Him to help you have even more in the years to come.

Do: Spend some time looking at old photos or videos of your wedding or photos of your early days as a couple. Have fun reminiscing together.

I Vow: Have Fun, Day 4

Read Proverbs 5:1-23

The third type of fun all married couples must enjoy is intimacy. Sex and intimacy within a marriage are vital components to having a healthy marriage. Many studies have shown couples stray away from their marriage when intimacy is not present, as they attempt to find it elsewhere. It’s important to keep that passionate fire burning you felt at the beginning of your marriage going throughout the rest of your lives together.

Talk: Discuss ways you can spice up your marriage and improve your intimacy.

Pray: Ask God to help make intimacy a priority in your marriage.

Do: Implement one of the ideas you discussed about how to improve intimacy in your marriage.

I Vow: Have Fun, Day 3

Read Song of Solomon 7:10-13

Another type of fun all married couples should enjoy is to spend time together. How can you expect your marriage to grow if you don’t spend time together? Husbands crave activity time with their wives. In fact, husbands are more likely to open up when they are doing something with their spouse they enjoy. More importantly, spending time together can allow time for good face-to-face conversation.

Talk: Discuss the things you both enjoy doing most. Talk about how your interests have changed over the years.

Pray: Ask God to give you opportunities to spend more time together as a couple. Thank Him for all the great times you’ve already enjoyed together.

Do: Do something spontaneous with your spouse today such as going on an unexpected lunch or dinner, going on a drive to revisit some of your favorite places, or going on a walk together.

I Vow: Have Fun, Day 2

Read Song of Solomon 4:1-16, Song of Solomon 7:1-9

The Bible shows us that are three types of fun every married couple must enjoy. The first is to spend time face-to-face talking with each other. Remember those days when you would stay up to 2:00 a.m. talking? Strive to bring back that type of conversation. Don’t spend your time always talking about your busy schedules, things to do, and frustrations. Talk about the things that are most important in your lives and marriage. Compliment each other and build each other up with your words. Express your love through words like we find in the Song of Solomon.

Talk: Talk about how you felt the first time you met your spouse and share with them the reasons why you fell in love with them.

Pray: Thank God for the qualities you love most about your spouse. Pray God will continue to develop those qualities even more.

Do: Play a game together today and enjoy a time of conversation as you play.

I Vow: Have Fun, Day 1

One of the most important things you must do to have a long and healthy marriage is to simply have fun. Even though you will endure tough times as a couple, you should always strive to find ways you can have fun and keep the romance as strong as it was the day you walked down the aisle. This week you will read about and discuss the importance of having fun and the types of fun every couple can enjoy.

Read Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, Proverbs 17:22

Without fun and intimacy marriage becomes a business relationship. It’s simply two people existing in the same house with two separate lives. No one falls in love having a bad time or being bored. Fun is not a luxury in marriage. If you don’t make time for fun, you may not have a marriage to make time for.

Talk: What things are keeping you from having fun? Discuss ways you both can remove these barriers.

Pray: Ask God to help you remove the things that are keeping you and your spouse from having fun together.

Do: Go on a date night tonight or work together to plan a date night for one night this week. Make a commitment to stick to the plan! 

I Vow: Fight Fair, Day 5

Read Matthew 18:21-35

When you fight fair, you both must be willing to apologize and forgive each other. By doing so you will be able to quickly put the hurt behind you and move towards a resolution and restoration.

Talk: Discuss some of your recent fights. Apologize to each other for your unfair words and actions. Take time to forgive each other as well.

Pray: Ask God to help you forgive and to have a heart of forgiveness.

Do:Show how much you love and appreciate your spouse by doing something special for them today.

I Vow: Fight Fair, Day 4

Read 1 Peter 3:8-12, Romans 12:9-21

Married couples that fight fair work towards resolution. Couples that do not fight fair press for victory. When we confront each other, we should always confront to bring about healing and never to win.

Talk: Recall one of the silliest things you’ve fought about in your marriage. Why do you think couples so often fight about silly things?

Pray: Ask God to reveal your faults when it comes to fighting with each other and ask Him to help you improve in those areas.

Do: If you’ve recently experienced something good in your marriage, then be intentional today about celebrating it. Feel free to be creative in how you celebrate. If you feel you have nothing recent to celebrate, then celebrate something good from your past and talk about how that moment affected your marriage.

I Vow: Fight Fair, Day 3

Read Ephesians 5:21-33, James 1:19-27

In order to fight fair you must handle your anger righteously. Reacting with only your emotions will escalate your fight. Instead, be slow to anger as the Bible says in James 1:19 because it will lead to resolution and healing.

Talk: Discuss with your spouse the best way and time to approach each other when addressing an issue in your marriage.

Pray: Ask God to reveal to each of you times where you haven’t fought fair and to help you restore any damage to your marriage caused by these fights.

Do: Create a simple list of ground rules based upon what you’ve learned from God’s Word to use when you fight. Keep this list in a place where both of you can see it to remind you how to fight fair.

I Vow: Fight Fair, Day 2

Read Ephesians 4:25-32, James 3:1-12

God’s Word tells us the tongue is a powerful weapon. In fact, the tongue is described in Proverbs as being as sharp as a double-edged sword. As a result, you must guard your words faithfully when you fight fair.

Talk: Compare how each of your families dealt with conflict while growing up and share how that shaped the way you handle conflict.

Pray: Ask God to give you the right words to say to your spouse when you fight fair. Ask Him also to help you speak life-giving words to your spouse at all times.

Do: Express your love to your spouse by writing a note of encouragement and sending it to them via letter, text, or email.

I Vow: Fight Fair, Day 1

All married couples fight. That’s a fact of life, but to have a long and healthy marriage you must learn to fight fair. This week you will read about and discuss with your spouse ways you can fight fair.

Read Proverbs 18:1-13

When it comes to fighting within your marriage, it’s not if you will fight, but how you will fight. You must learn to fight fair. In fact, God has given us rules about how to fight fair in the Bible. One of the most important rules is to always stop and listen carefully to your spouse during an argument.

Talk: Recall your first fight and discuss how your fights have changed since then.

Pray: Ask God to grow your ability to listen and to instill patience within you. 

Do: This week, take turns listening to one another. Allow your spouse to share whatever they want and listen without interruption as they share.

I Vow: Seek God, Day 5

Read James 4:1-8, Proverbs 3:1-6

Not only are praying and reading God’s Word vital steps toward seeking God together, but you must also worship together and create your own spiritual traditions. More importantly, you must do life together with God as a couple.

Talk: What should it look like for your family to do life together with God? What types of spiritual traditions should you start or revisit?

Pray: Pray that God will reveal Himself to each of you in the details of your life because it’s easier to seek God when you believe you will see Him.

Do: Go on a walk outside together and worship God by enjoying His creation.

I Vow: Seek God, Day 4

Read John 1:1-18, Psalm 119:97-112

To seek God together as a couple, you must read God’s Word together. God is woven into every area of your life. To realize and understand that fact, you must start with reading the Bible daily because it is through His Word that God speaks to us.

Talk: Why is it important to read the Bible together? What should that look like for your marriage?

Pray: Pray for God to give you both the discipline to pray and read His Word together every day.

Do: Pick one of your favorite Bible verses or passages and read it aloud to your spouse. 

I Vow: Seek God, Day 3

Read 2 Chronicles 7:11-18

To seek God together you must pray together. Sure, it can be awkward to pray together at first, but consider this: it’s hard to pray with someone you’re mad at. It’s harder to want a divorce from someone you’re praying with. It’s even more difficult to have an affair when you’re seeking God together.

Talk: What things in your marriage do you want to bring before God in prayer?

Pray: Pray about those things you discussed with your spouse about your marriage.

Do: Make a list of things you prayed about. Keep this list in a place where it will remind you to pray together. Feel free to add to your list as things come to mind.

I Vow: Seek God, Day 2

Read Matthew 6:25-34, Jeremiah 17:5-8

You must seek the “one” with your “two.” Not only should you spend time alone with God daily, but you should also spend time with God together.

Talk: What things keep you from seeking God? What are some ways you can remove those distractions?

Pray: Ask God to help you remove the things that are keeping you from seeking God both individually and together.

Do: Agree on a time you will seek God together each day through reading the Bible and praying together.

I Vow: Seek God, Day 1

A long healthy marriage comes from seeking God—both individually and together. Over the next five days you’ll focus on the importance of seeking God in your marriage and find practical ways you can seek Him.

Read Matthew 22:34-40

God is your “one” and your spouse is your “two.” You’ll never be fulfilled in life until you seek and meet the “one.” God is the only one who can bring true fulfillment.

Talk: Share a time when God felt very real to you.

Pray: Pray that both of you will develop a renewed passion for God.

Do: Briefly write your story of how you came to know Christ as your Savior and then share your stories with each other.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Stafford Crossing Community Church Devotional Blog.

This is a place were we will lean in throughout the week and continue to learn about what God is teaching us in our Celebration Service.

We hope you find this a valuable tool in your walk with God from Sunday to Sunday.

If you subscribe via e-mail in the slot to the right, each time we post, you will receive the post in your inbox.