‘Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ‘ Colossians 3:12(NLT)
‘I prayed to the Lord , and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.’ Psalms 34:4-5(NLT)
‘The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.’ Psalms 34:15-18(NLT)
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.’ Proverbs 3:5-6(NLT)
‘He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. ‘ Ephesians 1:7(NLT)
‘So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.’ Hebrews 4:16(NLT)
Relational intimacy is the interactive parts of your relationship. As you journey together, consider three areas in your communication and connection as I reference them as God Time, Couch Time, and Table Time.
God Time. It is always your first stop in growing your relationship. Your time with God needs to be front and center, ever present, an integral part of your personal and marital journey. It is here you receive healing for every hurt, forgive one another, and hear what truths you need to believe. Please do not move to second stop, Couch Time, until you have engaged in your God Time first.
Couch Time. The primary purpose of Couch Time is for listening in order to understand the thoughts, feelings, and desires (your TFDs) of your partner. Whether you are discussing a topic of interest, telling one another about your day, or seeking a solution to a problem, sharing your thoughts, feelings, and desires from your healthy I is very important. Remember, there are two voices, and both need to be given time to express themselves.
Table Time. Your third stop is Table Time. It is meant to help you work towards a solution for further growth of the relationship. The bottom line: Solving a problem is for the growth of your US. Keep growth as your focus.
Reflection: Keep God close beside you; invite Him in on every aspect of your life and your marriage. This is your greatest safeguard for your marriage. You need Jesus like you need air, food, and water to do your life and your marriage every day! Challenge yourself from your God relationship: how can I improve my listening and value two voices and move stronger towards the focus of growth in my marriage? Remember, marriage is a constant, continual process of nurturing, listening, connecting, changing, and growing.
from Daily Habits Of Marital Intimacy