No two marriages are exactly the same. God has ordained marriage between man and woman in order to propagate His kingdom on earth to prepare to eternal life with Him in heaven. Marriage is two-fold: 1. It brings man and wife alongside each other to act as companions and helpmates on the road to eternity. 2. It brings man and wife together as one to bring forth new generations.
This is the Christian perspective, to which I hold steadfast as ultimate truth.
Married Christian couples face the same problems, temptations and struggles with which most other married people contend. There’s no secret answer to having a perfect marriage because there’s no such thing as a perfect marriage. In fact, Scripture teaches that Christ’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
There are several things, however, that are crucial factors when the goal in marriage is loving service and marital happiness. The following keys are not full-proof to prevent strife, but chances are those who focus on these ideas in marriage will be able to overcome each obstacle that arises:
Surrender to Christ: In a Christian marriage, Jesus Christ must always be the focus and center. When each spouse surrenders his or her own heart to the Savior, life itself is made new, and marriage is made sacred and holy.
Die to self: In a “selfie” world the challenge of dying to self and living in Christ (and to serve others, especially a spouse) is NO JOKE. However, referring back to the first bullet point increases the chances of succeeding with the second.
Prayer: Praying with your spouse and for your spouse is the fuel that keeps a marriage running smoothly.
See spouse through God’s eyes: Your spouse is a beloved child of God. Although that may not be the exact way you view him or her when grating on your last nerve, making the effort to see your spouse as Christ sees your spouse inspires a spirit of forgiveness, mercy and love, which come in handy when times get rough.
See spouse as others do: When you meet work colleagues or others who know your spouse outside your home, do they always have nice things to say about him or her? When you’re tempted to nit-pick or point out faults, remember how others see your spouse and try to do the same.
Look for JOY: If you focus on your problems, problems are all you will see. By choosing to seek JOY in marriage, you allow it to take precedence in your life.
Someone once told me that joy is an acronym that stands for Jesus, others, you.
Marriage isn’t easy. In fact, the type of marriage described in this post is actually under attack in certain circuits of society today. Current statistics say divorce rates are the lowest they’ve been in years. Whether that’s because less people are getting married or more married people are fighting to preserve their relationships is debatable.
If you’re married and want to stay married, these six points might make for the perfect refrigerator magnet to remind yourself that it is possible to have a happy marriage, to rise above adversity and to honor the vows you made to God and one another to stay together until death do you part.
Writer Bio: Judy Dudich
Judy Dudich resides in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, where 24 acres of land and a home-office provide the perfect setting for her children’s home-education and her own homesteading and business ventures. Life is full of blessings (and challenges!) for Judy, as a wife, mother of 10 and Grammy to six. She is a published author, whose book, “I Surrender/A Study Guide for Women” continues to encourage and support others in Christian family lifestyles throughout the world. Judy has also previously worked in the online speaking circuit. Her passion for permaculture, re-purposing, foraging and organic gardening fills her days with learning and adventure that she loves to share.