What You Need to Stay Married

Today is my four-year wedding anniversary.  As I look over the last four years and the years leading up to our marriage; I am so thankful for God's hand all over us, even when we didn't have sense enough to be obedient and follow His leading.  I mean, I can't even tell you how much grace He has given us.

As I think about my husband, I just want to be a good steward, because outside of my salvation, he is God's greatest gift to me.  In a time where the world has a completely different view of marriage, I feel so blessed to have found true love eventhough I didn't know how.

I look back on our wedding and wedding planning, and I tried to plan a bang up event complete with awesome food, fun, beautiful bride.  With all of my planning, I still can't truthfully say that I had the best wedding, or that I was the most beautiful bride, or that my wedding was so fun that people didn't want to leave.  What I can say is that, the Spirit showed up at my wedding.  He was our guest of highest esteem, and everyone could feel His presence, and He taught me something.....God will honor every covenant and promise that is founded in Him and that He is invited to be a part of.  In all of our rushing around to plan the most spectacular event, I'm so glad that we didn't forget to invite Him!

Below you will find marriage advice from some extraordinary Christian couples!  Enjoy!

LaMar

• Keep an open heart
• Pray together as a family
• Listen and be interested

TiAnnaMae

The words I still remember and rely on until this day came from Pastor Randy.  He told us to always be eager to believe the best (about each other) and true joy comes when we put God first, each other second, and ourselves last.  So often things come off the wrong way, and we have to be eager to believe our spouse has the best intentions.  This concept was/is huge for me!

Noah & Cara, Married 3 Years

Never go to bed angry!

Ron & Kenyana, Married 9 Months

• Communicate and intentionally make each other a priority
• Invest in one another daily and enjoy it
• Care for each other according to Ephesians 5:21-33 (Instructions for Christian Households)

Jonathan & Sharion, Married 8 Years

Jonathan- Always develop an environment for trust with your partner so that you can achieve a new level of intimacy, which will help you to align your goals and work together as a team to take on everything life may throw your way


Sharion- God alone is the source of true joy; it is not your spouses job!  Make God the center of your marriage.

Reggie & Roshonda, Married 6.5 Months and Counting

• Keep God first! (Matthew 22:37)
• One key to a strong marriage is to have one based on faith and not on performance.
• Mirror God's image and continue to show love to one another like Christ has agape love for us.
• Trusting in God and his word will win every time! (Phillipians 4:11)

Michael & Sherry, Married 9 Years

Sherry- Focus on being the virtuous woman God created me to be (Proverbs 31)

Lamont & Micah, Married 8 Years

• Do not nag and complain about everything, choose your battles
• You can't change anyone

Uncle John (deceased) & Auntie Pat, Married 40+ Years

• Be grateful for each day and let the love of God shine through
• You are forever bound together as one

Please share your marriage advice and how long you've been married in the comments section below.