Tag: Getting Yourself Ready for Marriage 1: The Tough Questions

‘Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”’ Matthew 19:6(NLT)

‘Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.’ Proverbs 12:15(NLT)

‘Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.’ Proverbs 15:22(NLT)

Devotional Content:

My dream is for every marriage to be awesome.

Protecting a marriage from the disaster of divorce starts long before a couple stands at the altar and continues through their lifetime together.

Here is a plan of action to help you prepare for a marriage that will last:

First step: If you are dating, ask yourself if your relationship is high risk for divorce. Too many couples fall in love and get married before ever really seriously looking at the relationship. Look hard and deep into the relationship first. Make sure you are making the right decision. Although breakups are hard and painful, it’s much less painful than a divorce.

Step two: If you are married, commit to improve your marriage. Marriage is not something we do and then coast for 50 years. An awesome marriage takes work. Always be working at improving your marriage.

Step three: If you are single or married, find other couples with good marriages. Allow them to mentor you. Surround yourself with good examples of healthy marriages.

Step four: In marriage, agree to get help if you are ever faced with a marriage crisis. Sometimes the hurt, pain, and exhaustion can be unbearable and you need to ask for help. Help is available to anyone who asks. Help comes in many forms: Christian counselors, pastors, good friends and family, and even good books.

Today’s Challenge:

Dr. Kim shares that protecting a couple from the disaster of divorce starts long before the altar. Take time to sit down and think this week. Ask yourself: Is this relationship you are in at a high risk for divorce?

Going Deeper:

What step will you take today to ensure that you are prepared for a strong, healthy marriage?

from Getting Yourself Ready for Marriage 1: The Tough Questions by Dr. Kim Kimberling

‘So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.’ Hebrews 6:1-3(NLT)

‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’ Matthew 6:33(NLT)

‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.’ Hebrews 10:24-25(NLT)

Devotional Content:

How young is too young to get married?

It has more to do with maturity than age. Regardless of your age, the real question is: Are you willing to do what it takes that you are ready to commit for life?

For dating or engaged couples, this is what I advise you to do to prepare yourselves for marriage:

1. Put God at the center of your relationship

2. Participate in premarital counseling

3. Make sure your close friends and family support your marriage

4. Get out of financial debt

5. Be willing to commit to each other for life

If you do these things, you will be well on your way to a healthy and awesome marriage.

Bottom line: Maturity, commitment, and preparation are requirements for a successful marriage.

Today’s Challenge:

Dr. Kim shares that maturity, commitment, and preparation are requirements for an Awesome Marriage. What steps have you taken to prepare for an Awesome Marriage?

Going Deeper:

Pray and ask God to help prepare you for an awesome future marriage.

from Getting Yourself Ready for Marriage 1: The Tough Questions by Dr. Kim Kimberling

‘In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.’ 2 Peter 1:5-7(NLT)

‘“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord .’ Leviticus 19:18(NLT)

‘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 4:2-3(NLT)

Devotional Content:

What is the key to a good, healthy marriage? There isn’t a simple answer to that. It is a process and it takes work. Marriage is a journey and you have to work at it every day. Every marriage has its ups and downs because marriage is hard work and life isn’t easy.

Many couples want to get married because they love each other. But the truth is, love isn’t enough to ensure a happy marriage. It has to go deeper than that. There are lots of keys to a healthy, happy marriage. Things like: perseverance, patience, unselfishness, listening well, talking, solving problems, keeping romance alive, staying out of debt, and, most importantly, keeping God at the center.

To make your marriage go the distance, you have to be willing to accept the bad parts of your spouse along with the good. It means you have to be willing to work at being best friends.

Bottom line: It takes more than love to go the distance in marriage.

Today’s Challenge:

Dr. Kim shares that love alone is not enough to ensure a happy marriage. What are 5 characteristics that you think you will need to help you work toward an Awesome Marriage?

Going Deeper:

Dr. Kim shared several things that make a happy marriage: perseverance, patience, unselfishness, listening, talking, solving problems, staying out of debt, keeping romance alive, and, most importantly, keeping God at the center. Make a commitment to make these things a priority in your future marriage. Pray and ask God to help you do these things.

from Getting Yourself Ready for Marriage 1: The Tough Questions by Dr. Kim Kimberling

‘No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.’ Philippians 3:13-14(NLT)

‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.’ Ephesians 4:31-32(NLT)

‘“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.’ Matthew 6:14-15(NLT)

Devotional Content:

Your past relationships affect you. Often we let past relationships bleed over into new relationships. This can cause a lot of problems in dating and in marriage.

If you are still holding onto hurts of past relationships, it’s time to start letting go of those hurts so that you can move forward. That means it may be time to forgive.

Until you forgive, you are still tied to that other person and you are still giving them power in your life. Forgiveness is a decision. You have to choose to forgive. Forgiveness is also a process. Stay focused and committed to the process and you will get there.

If you are going to build a new, healthy relationship and marriage, you have to finish up the unfinished business of old relationships.

Today’s Challenge:

Dr. Kim shares that if you are going to build a new healthy relationship and a future marriage, you have to finish the unfinished business of old relationships. Is there any unfinished business in your old relationships?

Going Deeper:

If you need to forgive someone, pray and ask God to help you forgive them. It’s not easy, and it’s a process, but working toward healing is a step in the right direction.

from Getting Yourself Ready for Marriage 1: The Tough Questions by Dr. Kim Kimberling

‘I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord , that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’’ Hosea 10:12(NLT)

‘A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.’ Proverbs 22:3(NLT)

‘Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.’ Proverbs 24:27(NLT)

Devotional Content:

Marriage is a huge commitment and one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your entire life. It’s important to prepare well for marriage. There are lots of things you can do to best equip yourself. One major thing you can do to prepare for marriage is to participate in premarital counseling.

So whether you are dating or engaged or just thinking about the future, make a commitment to attend premarital counseling before entering into marriage. It is so important to take time to look at your relationship and to seriously examine everything that goes into marriage.

Couples who go through premarital counseling have a significantly lower divorce rate than those that do not participate in some form of premarital counseling.

Today’s Challenge:

What, if anything, is holding you back from premarital counseling and taking seriously your preparation for marriage?

Going Deeper:

Make a commitment to get premarital counseling before marriage. Dr. Kim’s online video course is a great option. You can check it out here: [Dr. Kim’s Premarital Video Course]

from Getting Yourself Ready for Marriage 1: The Tough Questions by Dr. Kim Kimberling