Category: 1st Marriage

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1st Marriage ZZ

How to UNCOVER God’s Word:

‘Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord .’ Proverbs 18:20-22(NLT)

ASK – God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ – the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT – on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND – to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered – individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

from Marriage and Commitment

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1st Marriage ZZ

How to UNCOVER God’s Word:

‘I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.’ 2 John 1:5-6(NLT)

ASK – God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ – the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT – on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND – to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered – individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

from Marriage and Commitment

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1st Marriage ZZ

How to UNCOVER God’s Word:

‘And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.’ Ephesians 5:21 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EPH.5.21

‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ‘ Ephesians 5:31-32(NLT)

ASK – God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ – the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT – on what grabs you. What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND – to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered – individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

from Marriage and Commitment

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1st Marriage ZZ

How to UNCOVER God’s Word:

‘“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”’ Matthew 19:4-6(NLT)

ASK – God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down, inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

READ – the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT – on what grabs you.  What connections do you see at this point in your life? How might God be speaking to you through these words? Stop long enough to let this take root and thank God for engaging you.

RESPOND – to the Scripture.  Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered – individually and with your church. And look for ways to bring what you have discovered to others.

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from Marriage and Commitment

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1st Marriage ZZ

Scripture To Pray Over Your Marriage – Day 3

‘For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”’ Zephaniah 3:17(NLT)

Scripture:

The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Prayer:

Loving Father, You are the model for what our love is to look and feel like in our marriage. Your love comes with strength. You defend and rescue us in our times of need – a victorious warrior. This also means Your love is imbued with courage, it’s a courageous love which seeks our safety, security and freedom. Let our marriage relationship reflect this courageous love for each other. Let us seek to defend or rescue each other from whatever life serves up – whether it be difficulties at work, in other relationships, in the home or even with our own emotional well-being. Let us be quick to come to the other’s needs, and to do so with joy and happiness – as You do.

God, You also demonstrate to us the power of a quiet love. This is a steady love which we know is there. It doesn’t need to be announced. It doesn’t need to be decorated by gifts or outings. Rather, Your quiet love gives us calm in knowing You are present, attentive and available. Make us both in our marriage present, attentive and available to each other. Give us the gift of a quiet, steady love in our marriage relationship. And let us also experience those moments of joy and rejoicing – whether in activities we do together – or in learning how to support each other in our own various hobbies or interests. Give us hearts that seek to make our spouse joyful simply due to our own joy in them. In Christ’s name. Amen. 

from Scripture To Pray Over Your Marriage

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1st Marriage ZZ

Scripture To Pray Over Your Marriage – Day 2

‘Your left arm would be under my head, and your right arm would embrace me.’ Song of Songs 8:3(NLT)

‘So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ Genesis 1:27(NLT)

Scripture:

Let his left hand be under my head and his right hand embrace me.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, Your love for us shows up in every moment of our lives. The detail You have gone to in Your creation – the flowers, nature, mountains and more – gives us a glimpse into the depths of affection You have for us. You desire to delight us with wonderful tastes, ornamental animals, cascading falls and brilliant sunrises and sunsets. Each moment where we choose to take notice of all that You have gifted to us in life is a moment where we experience Your love.

As men and women crafted and created in Your image, God, you have placed within us this same desire to both delight and be delighted in our relationship. The marriage relationship sits paramount above all others in this regard. God, restore or revive or even create within my marriage the fire of passion and desire that inspires both of us to want to bring joy to each other. Remind us of the things which first caused us to be attracted to each other and help us to focus on these things once again. Show us how to make time in the busy schedules of life for romance. May our marriage be one of mutual satisfaction emotionally and physically, Lord, as we seek to explore the depths of our love in the meaningful ways You’ve given us to know each other more fully. In Christ’s name. Amen. 

from Scripture To Pray Over Your Marriage

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1st Marriage ZZ

Scripture To Pray Over Your Marriage – Day 1

‘Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ‘ Ephesians 4:1-3(NLT)

Scripture:

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, our marriage means a lot to us and we want to see it grow in grace and deepen in love. But for starters, Lord, we must remember that we are first and foremost prisoners of You – serving and honoring  You in our heart, mind and body. Let everything we do and say in our marriage reflect this submission and surrender to You. 

Let humility cause our words to each other to begin by giving each other the benefit of the doubt when concerns arise. May what we say and the actions we live out be seasoned and clothed with gentleness. Our marriage bond is a covenant under Your love, Lord, and it is a bond You desire us to live out in peace. Remind us of this importance of preserving our unity and living in peace with each other when frustrations arise or needs aren’t met. Remind us before we say or do things we would later regret so that we honor You and Your will for our marriage relationship. In Christ. Amen. 

from Scripture To Pray Over Your Marriage

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1st Marriage ZZ

Reflect on how romance can last a lifetime.

‘I have entered my garden, my treasure, my bride! I gather myrrh with my spices and eat honeycomb with my honey. I drink wine with my milk. Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink! Yes, drink deeply of your love!’ Song of Songs 5:1(NLT)

“The word ‘romance,’ according to the dictionary, means excitement, adventure, and something extremely real. Romance should last a lifetime.” Billy Graham

Guided Prayer Prompt

Remember those sparks you both felt when dating? Buckle up, my friend, because if you pray in faith that God will re-light them, He will do just that. We don’t always think of committing our romantic emotions or space to God in prayer but when you do, you will discover God has a romantic heart as well. He wants couples to enjoy each other – fully and freely. Let His wisdom guide you and your spouse as you pray for His direction.

Prayer

Lord, give us butterflies in our stomach and sparks in our soul as a couple. Re-light the passion between us. Give me eyes to see the attractiveness of my spouse in more ways than just the physical. Let our language and words arouse romance within, whether in simply texting each other, cuddling at night or sharing a conversation after dinner. Help us to fully and freely enjoy each other as You would have us do. Guide us with Your wisdom on how to have hearts that truly sparkle with love, passion and the flame of desire in our home. In Jesus’ name, amen.

from Add Sparkle To Your Marriage

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1st Marriage ZZ

Discover the delight of falling in love all over again.

‘We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. ‘ 1 John 4:16(NLT)

“When we show love to others, God’s presence is with us.” – Linda Evans Shepherd

Guided Prayer Prompt

God has the power to make you and your spouse fall in love all over again. Every. Single. Day. How about you ask Him to do just that? Reflect on the things you used to do when you were dating or early on in your marriage – the things which brought about great mutual satisfaction and enjoyment. Seek to re-introduce the things which you can, or come up with new ways to invest in the joy of your relationship. 

Prayer

Lord, show us how we can delight in each other as a couple in even more ways than we do now. Give me wisdom about what my spouse truly desires. Help me to communicate to my spouse those things which make me enjoy our times together so very much. Help us to find those stolen, quiet moments even if and when our schedules are full. Guard us from ever being too busy that we forget the beauty of a flirtatious smile or the power of a knowing grin to draw us closer together. Let Your love live and move so fluidly within us that it can’t but help to overflow between us as well. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

from Add Sparkle To Your Marriage

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1st Marriage ZZ

Focus on enjoying and encouraging laughter.

‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.’ Proverbs 17:22(NLT)

“Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapies God ever granted humanity.” – Chuck Swindoll

Guided Prayer Prompt

Pray that God will fill your marriage with even more of that wonderful sound of laughter, mutual enjoyment, joy and delight. Ask God for wisdom on what you can do to encourage laughter in your spouse. Look for those moments where a good laugh can lighten the stress of daily life, and then embrace them.

Prayer

Lord, let laughter be an identifying sound in our marriage. Shared laughter. Quiet laughter. Loud laughter. Let us simply enjoy each other as we once did, fully embracing the fun and delight which first drew us together in love. Let me cause my spouse’s eyes to sparkle when I walk in the room. And let me spouse do the same for me. Fill our hearts with joy. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

from Add Sparkle To Your Marriage