I’ve often heard it said, “Spouses that Pray Together, Stay Together.”
Valentine’s Day holds a special significance in our home. It's a day when Patty and I honor each other. While many couples celebrate with romantic gestures, perhaps igniting a flame of love that burns brighter, the challenge lies in keeping that love glowing brightly throughout the next 364 days. Allow me to share what has worked exceptionally well for us: praying together. PRAYING WHILE HOLDING HANDS Patty and I share a prayer ritual that we believe was divinely inspired. Each morning when we first see each other, we hold hands and pray together. We take turns, sometimes offering many sentences, sometimes just a few. Regardless, the essence remains the same – praying together in a connected way, serving as a spiritual glue reminding us of our identity in Christ (as spiritual beings) and our bond to each other (united by Christ in Holy Matrimony). I encourage you to try this with your spouse and see if it enriches your marriage as it has ours. It truly works wonders. SEEKING COUNSEL Before we were married, Patty and I began pre-marital counseling, and we've continued it ever since. Year after year, we meet with a counselor to navigate through difficult decisions. Personally, I find value in having a woman’s perspective on what my wife expresses, so our counselor has always been a woman. With the convenience of Zoom in this age, we easily fit these bi-monthly sessions into our busy lives. We ensure our counselor is highly credentialed and a committed follower of Christ. As a side note, I've noticed many Christian counselors overlook the practice of starting and ending sessions with prayer. I believe this is a missed opportunity. My suggestion: Take charge of your session and incorporate prayer. After all, Christ is truly your counselor, and hopefully, the earthly counselor you choose is aware of their limited role in comparison. LOVE LETTERS When I married Patty, I presented her with a leather-bound journal containing a love letter from me. Since then, on special occasions, I retrieve it from her drawer and pen another love letter inside. In times of doubt or struggle, Patty can turn to her journal and read these love letters. They're all in one place, arranged chronologically. In fact, I'm about to retrieve that journal and write in it now. And yes, I always conclude my letters with a prayer for my spouse. There is tremendous power in the written word. Many settle for signing pre-written greeting cards, but words from the heart hold much greater significance. CONCLUSION Anyone claiming to have marriage figured out is either dishonest or delusional, possibly not listening to their spouse! I don’t profess to have all the answers, only to be a student of marriage. I look to Christ and His teachings on marital conduct, which are substantial. I also learn from Christ-followers with marriages spanning 30, 40, or even 50+ years, for they exemplify endurance. Allow me to leave you with parting words from a well-known Scripture often read at weddings: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13 NIV) Let me correct my conclusion. There is indeed one who has mastered marriage: Christ our Lord, the author of all genuine love. May we love our spouses with His divine love. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 14, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Comments are closed.
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