I love the exchange of a recipe card. It’s written in the handwriting of the giver. There was an occasion that transpired that brought the request for the recipe. Perhaps a shared meal in a home, a church function, or a family reunion. The recipe was too good to not enjoy again, so the request was made-
Will you share your recipe with me?
We know others will enjoy it, so we make the recipe, and the process is likely to be repeated.
I think the same is true of good advice or teaching. When we hear something that could benefit others, it should be shared so they can enjoy it, too. Last weekend my husband shared solid, practical marriage counsel for enjoying a joy-filled relationship. It’s too good not to share with you!
Five things that will destroy a marriage…
- Starvation – This refers to spiritual starvation. We must continue to…
- Read the Bible together. Talk about what you’re each leaning from God’s Word. Disciple one another.
- Pray together – This doesn’t mean mealtime prayers, but taking burdens to the Lord as a couple.
- Read a book together, something that will strengthen your marriage.
- Spend time with other couples that can encourage you both and be an example of a biblical marriage.
- Strangers – Keep enjoying being together.
- Plan for weekly dates. They can be at home or away, but make time to be together.
- Prepare for your children to leave home. Little by little make them independent from you.
- Superficiality – Don’t let your conversations shrink to only the things that make life function, like errands or schedules. Learn to listen, ask questions, look and pay attention to the heart of your spouse.
- Talk about dreams, prayer requests, struggles, and issues that may come up between you rather than stuffing them down.
- Strangling – This refers to what happens when we avoid conflict. Rather than dealing with hurts and offenses, the couple stuffs it down, become bitter, choking off the life, and the relationship suffers greatly.
- Seclusion – Don’t isolate yourselves. Be together. Be in the same room, even if you’re both working on projects.
- Don’t take separate vacations regularly.
- Stay in contact throughout the day – where you’re going, what you’re doing or updates if your plans have changed.
- Don’t isolate yourself and live in a different world from your spouse.
These are things Dale and I have to work on daily. It’s easy to let marriage coast, but it always does so downhill. I want more for my marriage than that. I bet you do, too.
These are some pretty great “ingredients” to add to my marriage, and I pray it will make your marriage sweeter, too! If you find these tips helpful, pray about someone to whom you could share the “recipe.”
RefreshHer 