Cultivating Strong Marriages: Rooted in Grace

Hello, dear friends! Welcome back to Rooted in Grace, where we journey together in faith and love.

Today, I want to delve into a topic that's close to many of our hearts: cultivating strong marriages.

The foundation of a resilient, loving marriage is often rooted in our commitment to live out the principles found in God's Word. One verse that beautifully encapsulates the essence of a strong marriage is Romans 12:10:

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

This scripture guides us in three key areas that can transform our marriages: devotion, love, and honor.

Devotion: The Heart of Commitment

In a world that often prioritizes individual desires, true devotion calls us to steadfastly commit to our spouse. This means being present in the good times and the challenging ones, actively choosing to support and cherish each other every day. Devotion isn't just about grand gestures; it's the everyday acts of kindness, patience, and understanding that build a strong, enduring bond.

Love: The Greatest Gift

The love Paul speaks of in Romans 12:10 is agape love—a selfless, sacrificial love that mirrors Christ's love for us. It's a love that goes beyond fleeting emotions and is grounded in action and truth. In marriage, this means seeking the best for our spouse, forgiving readily, and always striving to uplift and encourage one another. When we love deeply and authentically, we create a safe and nurturing environment where our relationship can flourish.

Honor: Elevating Your Spouse

To honor someone means to show them respect and admiration. In marriage, this translates to valuing our spouse's thoughts, feelings, and needs above our own. It’s about speaking kindly, listening intently, and appreciating the unique person God has brought into our lives.

When we honor our spouse, we build them up and create a culture of mutual respect and appreciation, which is essential for a thriving marriage.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Marriage

1. Pray Together: Prayer invites God's presence into your relationship and aligns your hearts with His will. Make it a habit to pray together daily, seeking God's guidance and blessings for your marriage. My husband and I started doing this together and it has been such a blessing. It is something that I look forward to everyday. Even when he is working on the road, we make time to pray together. We pray over our marriage, our kids, our family, our dreams and our future. I encourage you to do this with your spouse, if you don't already.

2. Communicate Openly: Open, honest communication is the bedrock of any strong relationship. Take time to share your thoughts and feelings, and listen with empathy and understanding. I am still learning how to communicate better. It is crazy how something that should be so simple is often hard to do.

3. Spend Quality Time: In the busyness of life, it's crucial to carve out time to connect with your spouse. Whether it's a date night, a walk in the park, or simply sitting together with a cup of coffee, these moments strengthen your bond. I can't stress this enough. Especially for my husband and I. With a spouse that works on the road, ensuring that we make time for each other is essential. Daily conversations, video chats, catching up on each other's days, laughing and crying together. And when we are together, we make the most of the time we have and we cherish each moment.

4. Serve Each Other: Look for ways to serve your spouse, meeting their needs and showing them love in practical ways. This could be through acts of service, words of affirmation, or any love language that resonates with them. In my relationship, my husband excels in this area. He is the most thoughtful, caring, loving husband. He does so much for me, more than I could ever ask for. And I live to serve him. It is the biggest blessing in my life to DO for my husband. Having a serving marriage will bring you more joy and happiness than you can imagine and I encourage everyone to find ways to serve your spouse (without expectations, selflessly, seeking nothing in return) and watch your marriage thrive.

5. Seek Growth Together: Attend marriage workshops, read books on marriage, or join a couples' Bible study. Investing in your relationship helps you grow closer to each other and to God.

A strong marriage rooted in grace is a beautiful testament to God's love and faithfulness. By embracing devotion, love, and honor as outlined in Romans 12:10, we can build marriages that not only withstand the tests of time but also reflect the glory of our Creator. Let’s strive to be devoted to one another in love, honoring each other above ourselves, and in doing so, create a legacy of love for our families and communities.

Thank you for joining me on Rooted in Grace. May God bless your marriage abundantly as you seek to honor Him in your relationship. Until next time, stay rooted in His grace and love.