‘Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord , meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.’ Psalms 1:1-3(NLT)
‘So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.’ Colossians 1:9-10(NLT)
A psalm of David.
‘The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.’ Psalms 23:1-6(NLT)
‘Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.’ Isaiah 40:28-31(NLT)
What is life about?
Is it about being happy and fulfilled? Is it about fulfilling your soul, being useful, or about “making a difference”?
The Westminster Short Catechism provides one of the best answers: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” That’s our focus. That’s our mission.
We don’t need to pursue that goal in our own power, either. God’s Spirit continually works in our lives to strengthen us, build us, protect us, and fill our lives with the knowledge of His will (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:28-31; Colossians 1:9).
Because our purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him, the greatest thing you can do for your marriage is to encourage each other to pursue God and spend time with Him. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.”
Over the next year of your married life, look for ways to point each other to God and His Word. Remember that those who delight in God’s Word are “like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3). Don’t you want those words to describe you—and your spouse?
Also, spend time praying together. Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife, says that praying together daily with his wife “has helped resolve conflicts, kept communication flowing, and, most importantly, acknowledged our utter dependence upon Jesus Christ as the Lord and Builder of our family.”
The closer you grow to God, the closer you will grow to each other.
Discuss:
Read Psalm 1:1-3 together. How have you seen your life prosper as you know and apply God’s Word in your life? How could you encourage each other to grow closer to God?
from The Next Year Of Your Marriage
