A better view of marriage will help your family greatly.  A successful Christian marriage that works is a ‘covenant’ between two sinful, imperfect people redeemed by the Blood of Christ, who refuse to give up on each other.  When we understand this, we can practice the two key marriage builders that are more effective than anything else. To love and to respect. This means we are to cherish our wives and respect our husbands, even when they do not deserve it. Because that is how Christ is with you for eternity (Genesis 2:24; Proverbs 3:1-35; Malachi 2:14-16; Hebrews 13:4)!

For successfully divorce-proofing your marriage, what we are doing is simple– practice cherishing love, respecting acceptance and praying together, so you really value your spouse. Two more things–guard your heart from lust and sin and control your pride!  If you do these five things:

1. Love – cherish

2. Respect – value

3. Guard against lust

4. Control your pride

5. Pray together

… You and your spouse will be on the winning side of faith, family life and harmony!

Communicate and Commune!  Talk. Listen. Talk. Listen. Then talk and listen some more. This is not just a cliché; it is the essence of relationships.

Remember, men and women think differently and act and react differently. This is good. You are different, that is OK, you would not want to be married to yourself! Celebrate and respect differences and work on your own character and be an example.

Have a budget!

See the book “This Is Marriage” chapter on this and Appendix III. How much is coming in and how much is going out?  Make sure what comes in is more than what goes out and agree upon it. Have an agreement on how much money each person is allowed to spend on their own, beyond what is budgeted for. What are the limits for bigger purchases and let the other know before spending the amount you agreed upon is the limit.

When you buy gifts for one another, they do not need to be expensive. But, put some thought into it and try harder for something special and unique to them. Waffle makers and ties just do not cut it, they do not say you are special to me, neither does expensive jewelry.  Remember, you can’t buy love, it is leased through our Lord.

Marriage should never get old and stale, if it seems to, try new and different routines and things. Marriage is work; keep working at it and remember we are created to work and work was instituted before the fall of humanity and before sin entered into the world. So, that means “work at it” and have fun doing so.

God’s true Truths will help you grow in your spousal relationship and be effectual to your loved ones. It all comes down to this: we must see our life as belonging to Christ as LORD.  He wants us to see it as an expression of character, honor, wonder, and gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done. Your marriage can express our praise and honor for His glory.

Look carefully at Proverbs Chapter 3 and what God is saying. How can these Proverbs help you in your marriage?

Look to God’s precepts for building a great marriage.