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God's Priority Plan for Successful Marriages

Successful Marriages

God's Daily Priority Plan for Marriage

1. God comes first
2. Spouse is second
3. Children are third
4. Work, school, friends, etc. come next

Healthy Relationships

1. Make a once and for all commitment that you do have the desire to have an awesome relationship.

2. Agree to invite Christ into the relationship. Three is stronger than two. A twine of three strands cannot be broken.

3. Have respect and honesty with each other at all times, in all things, about all feelings. Live truthfully always.

4. Forgive each other for mistakes completely. Forget it happened, as Christ forgives us. Don't bring it up again. Period. Trust God to work on the other person to change so that the mistake doesn't happen again.

5. Be tolerant for present and future mistakes, habits, and idiosyncracies.

6. Trust each other and trust God. Trust each other to speak the truth and trust the other to receive the truth with an open heart.

7. Trust God to add wisdom and discernment to know what to tolerate and the strength not to tolerate (ability to confront honestly) what shouldn't be tolerated.

8. Never nag—tell/ask your spouse one time (making sure they really heard and agreed to do what you asked) and allow God to work in that person's heart and mind to do what needs to be done.

9. Ask for grace and mercy from God and from each other to cover your own imperfections.

10. Remember, love is a decision. Love is a verb. You work on yourself and your decision to love, and allow God to work on your spouse.

11. Find out what concrete ways your spouse likes to have love expressed and make an effort to do that. Some spouses like words and compliments, some like little surprise gifts, and some like to know their spouse is willing to work hard for them. Unfortunately, everyone is different and your way of expressing love may not line up with your spouse's. So ask questions and find out. Example: For 30 years, a couple would have toast for breakfast together. The husband would always give his wife the ends of the loaf of bread. For 30 years, the wife resented that and finally told him one day she wanted a divorce. When he asked why, she told him she felt that giving her the ends of the bread showed he really didn't love her at all. His eyes filled with tears as he explained that in his family growing up, the ends of the bread was the prized piece and he was showing his love for her all these years by giving her what he himself prized.

12. Communicate, be honest, and don't hold on too tight to being right all the time. It's not that important. Learn to say, "I was wrong, I'm sorry, please forgive me."

One Time Life Time Legacy © 2006

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