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Preparing for Marriage God's Way: A Foundation of Faith and Love
Are you and your partner dreaming of a marriage built on a strong foundation? Do you yearn for a relationship that not only thrives on love and commitment but also reflects God's design? This comprehensive guide explores how to prepare for marriage God's way, focusing on spiritual growth, communication, and building a lasting bond rooted in faith. We’ll delve into practical steps, biblical principles, and vital considerations to help you embark on this journey with confidence and grace.
I. Seeking God's Guidance: The Cornerstone of Preparation
Before even setting a date, the most crucial step is seeking God's guidance. This isn't a passive activity; it requires intentional prayer, Bible study, and seeking counsel from trusted spiritual mentors.
Honest Self-Reflection: Prayerfully examine your heart. Are you truly ready for the commitment of marriage? Are you motivated by love for God and for your partner, or by societal pressures or personal desires? Honest introspection is paramount.
Biblical Foundation: The Bible offers invaluable wisdom on marriage. Study passages like Ephesians 5:22-33, which describes the husband-wife relationship as a reflection of Christ and the Church. Understanding these principles provides a framework for building a godly marriage.
Seeking Counsel: Don't hesitate to seek guidance from your pastor, a trusted mentor, or a marriage counselor experienced in faith-based approaches. Their insights and prayers can provide invaluable support and clarity.
II. Cultivating Spiritual Growth Together
A shared faith is a powerful foundation, but it's equally important to cultivate individual spiritual growth. This strengthens your individual relationship with God, enriching your relationship with each other.
Joint Prayer and Bible Study: Dedicate time for regular prayer and Bible study together. This shared spiritual journey will deepen your connection and provide a common ground for navigating life's challenges.
Serving Together: Volunteering or serving in your church community or within the wider community fosters teamwork, compassion, and a shared sense of purpose, strengthening your bond.
Addressing Spiritual Disparities: If you and your partner have different levels of faith or different denominational backgrounds, open communication and mutual respect are vital. Seek premarital counseling to address these differences proactively.
III. Building Strong Communication: The Lifeblood of a Healthy Marriage
Effective communication is the lifeblood of any healthy relationship, especially within the context of a Godly marriage.
Honest and Open Dialogue: Learn to communicate openly and honestly, expressing your needs, fears, and desires without judgment or accusation. Practice active listening, truly hearing your partner's perspective.
Conflict Resolution: Disagreements are inevitable. Learn healthy conflict resolution strategies rooted in forgiveness, understanding, and a commitment to finding common ground. Pray together during conflicts, seeking God's guidance.
Forgiveness and Grace: Extend grace and forgiveness freely to each other. Holding onto resentment will erode the foundation of your relationship. Remember that both parties are imperfect and prone to mistakes.
IV. Financial Planning and Shared Values: A Practical Approach
Financial matters can create significant stress in a marriage. Addressing these issues proactively is crucial for a healthy union.
Shared Financial Goals: Openly discuss your financial aspirations, spending habits, and debt levels. Create a joint budget that reflects your shared values and financial goals.
Pre-nuptial Agreements: In some situations, a pre-nuptial agreement can protect both parties' assets and avoid potential conflicts later on. Consult with a financial advisor and attorney to determine if this is the right choice for you.
Shared Values: Align your values on important issues such as family, career, and life goals. Open discussion and compromise are essential to creating a shared vision for your future.
V. Premarital Counseling: Investing in Your Future
Investing in premarital counseling is a wise decision that can significantly increase your chances of a successful marriage. A qualified counselor can help you:
Identify Potential Challenges: Address potential areas of conflict before they become major issues.
Strengthen Communication Skills: Learn effective communication strategies to navigate disagreements and build intimacy.
Develop Conflict Resolution Strategies: Learn to resolve conflicts constructively and maintain a healthy relationship.
Conclusion
Preparing for marriage God's way is a journey of faith, commitment, and growth. By focusing on spiritual development, communication, and practical planning, you can build a strong and lasting marriage that honors God and brings you joy for years to come. Remember, this is a continuous process, not a destination. As you navigate the joys and challenges of marriage, continue to seek God's guidance, relying on His grace and wisdom to guide your steps.
FAQs
1. Is premarital counseling necessary for a Christian marriage? While not mandatory, premarital counseling is highly recommended, offering valuable insight and preparing couples for the challenges ahead.
2. How do we handle differing opinions on finances? Open and honest communication, creating a shared budget, and seeking financial guidance together can help navigate these differences.
3. What if we have different levels of faith? Addressing these disparities through open communication, mutual respect, and potentially seeking counsel is crucial for building a strong foundation.
4. How can we prevent conflict in our marriage? While conflict is inevitable, proactive communication, conflict resolution skills, and a willingness to forgive can minimize its impact.
5. What role does forgiveness play in a Godly marriage? Forgiveness is essential; it reflects God's grace and is crucial for maintaining unity and healing within the relationship.
| preparing for marriage gods way: Preparing for Marriage God's Way: A Step-By-Step Guide for Marriage Success Before and After the Wedding Wayne Mack, 2013-10 The decision to marry a certain person is one of the most important you'll ever make. It's vital to go into that marriage informed and prepared! Preparing for Marriage God's Way is a marriage counseling resource that uses thoughtful self-examination to reveal the personalities, background, and expectations that you and your partner are bringing to your union. Through rigorous Bible study, you will learn about God's expectations for marriage and be equipped with his solutions for dealing with typical marriage conflicts. Three follow-up lessons after the wedding help you to reflect on all that's happened after you said, I do. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Preparing for Marriage God's Way: A Step-By-Step Guide for Marriage Readiness and After-The-Wedding Conflicts Wayne A. Mack, Nathan A. Mack, 1991-03 Preparing For Marriage God's Way guides you to an understanding of what to do when the glow of courtship must be replaced by the daily responsiblility of marriage. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Not Yet Married Marshall Segal, 2017-06-20 Life Is Never Mainly About Love and Marriage. So Learn to Live and Date for More. Many of you grew up assuming that marriage would meet all of your needs and unlock God's purposes for you. But God has far more planned for you than your future marriage. Not Yet Married is not about waiting quietly in the corner of the world for God to bring you the one, but about inspiring you to live and date for more now. If you follow Jesus, the search for a spouse is no longer a pursuit of the perfect person, but a pursuit of more of God. He will likely write a love story for you different than the one you would write for yourself, but that's because he loves you and knows how to write a better story. This book was written to help you find real hope, happiness, and purpose in your not-yet-married life. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Strengthening Your Marriage Wayne A. Mack, 1999 This valuable counseling aid for pastors can also be used with great benefit by couples on their own. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: What He Must Be Voddie Baucham Jr., 2009-01-30 All parents want their daughters to marry godly young men. But which qualities, specifically, should they be looking for? What will you say when that certain young man sits down in your living room, sweaty-palmed and tongue-tied, and asks your permission to marry your daughter? What criteria should he meet before the two of them join together for life? What He Must Be... If He Wants to Marry My Daughter outlines ten qualities parents should look for in a son-in-law, including trustworthiness, a willingness to lead his family, an understanding of his wife's role, and various spiritual leadership qualities. Author Voddie Baucham follows up on his popular book Family Driven Faith with this compelling apologetic of biblical manhood. By studying the principles outlined in his book, parents who want their daughter to marry a godly man-as well as those who want their sons to become godly men-will be well equipped to help their children look for and develop these God-honoring qualities. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Marriage After God Aaron Smith, Jennifer Smith, 2019-06-04 What if God has purposed your marriage for something so much more than happily ever after? Since the very beginning, God's design for marriage has been for husbands and wives to be ambassadors of holy love to a hurting world. Still, too many couples stop short at happy and wonder why they feel unsatisfied. Rather than you and me against the world, God calls each couple to the rich and meaningful mission of you and me for the world. In Marriage After God, Aaron and Jennifer Smith, popular marriage bloggers at HusbandRevolution.com and UnveiledWife.com, transparently share their own journey of turning a marriage in crisis into a marriage built on Christ's redemptive love. With fresh biblical insight and intimate stories of their own struggles and victories, this book will guide you toward a God-centered, ministry-minded, and thriving marriage. Throughout Marriage After God, you'll learn to: Discover the signature marks of a marriage after God Find principles for building an unshakable marriage foundation Let God's story take the lead in your love story Recognize the tools God has already equipped you with for a missional life together Filled with timeless wisdom, this thorough and practical book will empower you and your spouse to dream, decide, and do as you step hand in hand into God's ultimate purpose for your marriage. God has created your remarkable, romantic, and redemptive relationship to be a powerful light to a dark and hurting world. Let Marriage After God be your invitation to marriage as God intended--a life-saving, hope-inspiring, and transforming force of God's love. Praise for Marriage After God: This book is an incredible resource for anyone trying to grow or step into a healthier and more life-giving marriage. Aaron and Jen pull no punches; are honest, raw, and authentic; and show that a marriage in pursuit of Jesus can change the world. --Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion There is a short list of books I'm stashing away for my three small kiddos to read when they are older--Marriage After God is one of them. Dear couples of the world, you have picked up a treasure! This book will give you clear direction to live out God's will for your marriage. There is no greater gift you can give yourselves than to run after Him together. Marriage After God will show you how! --Lara Casey, author of Cultivate and Make It Happen |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Tying the Knot Tighter Martha Peace, John Crotts, 2007 Just as the best coaches remind their players to master the basics of their sport, Christian couples need to be regularly reminded of the basics of a Christian marriage. This book sets out to provide such reminders. The authors have broken down nineteen areas of marriage by briefly summarizing the Bible's teaching and offering a series of penetrating questions to help readers take inventory of themselves and their marriage. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Your Family, God's Way Wayne A. Mack, 1991 As a husband, father of four, and family counselor, Wayne A. Mack knows what makes families tick. Here he offers biblical insight and practical wisdom into two crucial areas of family life: communication and conflict resolution. Alerting us to the pitfalls of faulty communication, such as undertalk, overtalk, poor listening, forms of falsehood, and circuit jammers to communication, Mack examines why families fight and explains the key to turning family discord into harmony. Firsthand success stories and highly practical application questions give hope and clear direction to all who wish to build stronger families God's way. - Back cover. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Kingdom Marriage Tony Evans, 2016-09-01 What happens when a kingdom man marries a kingdom woman? Kingdom Marriage: Connecting God’s Purpose with Your Pleasure helps couples grow together as a kingdom couple to fulfill God’s design and purpose for their marriage. Through practical insights and powerful stories, Dr. Tony Evans inspires and instructs so couples will discover the hope, challenge, and guidance God’s Word provides for their journey together. “You can reflect the glory of God and the unity of the Trinity through your shared purpose, honor, and love as a true kingdom couple.” —Tony Evans Kingdom Marriage shows couples that the key to influencing our society and world with lasting impact is found in solidifying biblical marriage in the way God intended. It starts with both wife and husband reflecting God and His image and modeling that reflection within the roles and responsibilities of their union. This is based on a correct understanding of God’s kingdom and their responsibilities in it. Kingdom Marriage and the Kingdom Marriage devotional and video resources are part of an entire line of Kingdom products by Tony Evans, including Kingdom Man, Kingdom Woman, Raising Kingdom Kids, and the Kingdom Quest strategy guides for kids and teens. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Rich Wounds David Mathis, 2022-02-01 Profound reflections on the cross that help you to meditate on and marvel at the sacrificial love of Jesus. This book can be used as a devotional, especially during Lent and Easter. These profound reflections on the cross from David Mathis, author of The Christmas We Didn’t Expect, will help you to meditate on and marvel at Jesus’ life, sacrificial death, and spectacular resurrection-enabling you to treasure anew who Jesus is and what he has done. Many of us are so familiar with the Easter story that it becomes easy to miss subtle details and difficult to really enjoy its meaning. This book will help you to pause and marvel at Jesus, whose now-glorified wounds are a sign of his unfailing love and the decisive victory that he has won: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) This book can be used as a devotional. The chapters on Holy Week make it especially helpful during the Lent season and at Easter. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Positioned to Be Found Teresa Renee Hunt, 2015-01-22 If your husband were to find you today, would he find that you are ready for marriage? Would he find that your time was spent beautifying your external image, but not building your internal being? Would he find you broken or restored? Spiritually and emotionally free or bound? Would he be pleased or disappointed with your decisions prior to him meeting you? Will he see you as a woman of compromise or good character? Will you even recognize him, or will you be preoccupied with a counterfeit relationship? In a transparent, encouraging, and straight-forward way, Teresa Renee shares practical advice that will help you prepare for marriage before you even get a ring! In every page, she speaks to your lifestyle while single, decisions while dating, your mindset about yourself, relationships, and more. In this book you will glean from her personal life experiences, biblical truths, and wife-wisdom which will leave you equipped to stand out as a good thing to a man who is ready for his wife.You'll discover how to:*Become Mrs. Right instead of Ms. Right Now*Live independent and free of emotional baggage*Maintain your standards without apology *Avoid dead-end relationships*Overcome the guilt of your past*Maximize this season while preparing for the futureIn her candid, yet uplifting style, the jewels of wisdom revealed in each chapter will empower you to align the decisions you make prior to marriage, with your desire of being a wife one day soon! |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Your Marriage God's Way Workbook Scott LaPierre, 2021-09-21 Apply God’s Wisdom to Your Marriage God designed the unique covenant between a man and a woman to be a lifelong partnership that brings joy, support, and stability to both their lives. You can experience this fulfillment for yourself when you follow His plan as the foundation for the relationship between you and your loved one. This companion to Your Marriage God’s Way invites you to work together with your spouse to take a closer look at the biblical principles for this precious contract and make them an active part of your own marriage. You will build a stronger relationship and deeper faith as you understand the unique roles God has given each of you identify ways you can better help, encourage, and support each other make serving God the focal point of your marriage No matter how long you’ve been married, there is always room to grow in your relationship by placing Christ at its center. With the help of the Your Marriage God’s Way Workbook, bring your hearts closer together and experience the fullness God has in store for both of you. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Preparing for Marriage John Piper, 2018-03 Getting to know that special someone naturally involves learning about family and friends, education and athletics, favorite pastimes, and your hopes and dreams. Ideally, you'll talk about life's best moments and worst, the brightest places in your background and the darkest.But what about God? What is his role in your relationship? What do each of you believe about him, and how do you understand his dream for marriage-for your marriage?John Piper wants to help you faithfully walk the road to becoming husband and wife. Here you'll find his counsel on practical topics like engagement, wedding planning, finances, and sex. But most importantly, John shares his most vital word on marriage: a vision grander than many of us have ever dared to dream, about what God is doing in every Christian marriage. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Gospel Centered Marriage Tim Chester, 2011-10-01 How the gospel shapes the practical realities of everyday married life. Most of what the Bible has to say about marriage does not come flagged up under a heading of “marriage”. It’s not just the famous “marriage passages” that should shape a marriage, but the whole Bible-story of God’s good creation, humanity’s wicked rebellion and God’s gracious redemption. To understand why marriages struggle-as they all do-we need to understand the nature of our sin. To make marriages work, we need to understand how to apply the truth about God and his salvation. This study guide on Christian marriage focuses on how the gospel shapes the practical realities of everyday life. Author Tim Chester lifts the lid on many of the common pressure points that modern couples face, and shows how a proper understanding of the gospel can shape a response. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Fight for Your Pastor Peter Orr, 2022-10-31 Practical Ways to Support and Care for Your Pastor Do you pray for your pastors? Do you encourage them? Do you have realistic expectations for them? The office of pastor is simultaneously a rewarding and draining position. Pastors today have immense pressure on their shoulders and they need the support of their congregations. Peter Orr has written Fight for Your Pastor as an exhortation for church members to stand behind their pastors through the difficulties of ministry. Orr specifies ways in which congregations can be intentional in caring for church leaders, including prayer, encouragement, generosity, and forgiveness. Featuring stories from current pastors about their struggles, this book is perfect for thoughtful church members eager to understand the weight of their pastors' positions and support leaders in their important ministry. For Thoughtful Christians: Specifically those wanting to know more about their pastors and how to care for them Current: Features insight from pastors about their personal experiences in ministry Applicable: Gives practical examples of how to love and care for pastors, including specific prayers for church leaders and the best ways to encourage them |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Vertical Marriage Dave Wilson, Ann Wilson, 2019-01-29 For anyone who is married, preparing for marriage, or desperate to save a relationship teetering on the brink of divorce, marriage coaches Dave and Ann Wilson offer hope and strategies gleaned from personal experience and Scripture that really work. Vertical Marriage will give you the insight, applications, and inspiration to transform your marriage into everything you hoped it would be. Honest to the core and laugh-out-loud funny, Dave and Ann Wilson share the one secret that brought them from the brink of divorce to a healthy and vibrant relationship. If you had asked Dave how their marriage was doing on the night of their tenth wedding anniversary, Dave would have rated it a 9.8 out of 10, and he would have even guaranteed that Ann would say the same. But instead of giving him a celebratory kiss, Ann whispered, I've lost my feelings for you. Divorce seemed inevitable for the Wilsons, but starting that night, God began to reveal to Dave and Ann the most overlooked secret of getting the marriage we are looking for: a horizontal marriage relationship just doesn't work until your vertical relationship with Christ is first. As founders of a multi-campus church and marriage coaches with 30 years of experience, Dave and Ann share the hard-earned but easy-to-apply biblical principles that ensure a strong marriage. Written in a highly relatable dialogue between both husband and wife, Vertical Marriage will guide you toward building a vibrant relationship at every level, giving you the tools you need to embrace: Effective communication Fair conflict True romance A deeper connection Through their unique perspectives, Dave and Ann share an intimate, sometimes hilarious, and at times deeply poignant narrative of one couple's journey to reconnecting with God and discovering the joy and power of a vertical marriage. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Preparing for Marriage Devotions for Couples Dennis Rainey, Barbara Rainey, 2013-10-07 It can be tempting for engaged couples to focus on planning their wedding day and ignore preparations for the lifetime commitment that begins after the cake is cut. Now the bestselling resource for couples Preparing for Marriage has a companion devotional that includes fifty short devotions written by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Preparing for Marriage is a program created by FamilyLife, one of America's leading marriage and family ministries, and is designed to help Christian couples lay the foundation for a strong, lasting, and biblical marriage. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Preparing Children for Marriage Josh Mulvihill, 2017 Many parents find it difficult to broach these topics with their children, especially in age-appropriate ways. But our choice is no longer between teaching them now or later-if we do not reach them first, our culture is happy to step in with messages of its own. Someone is going to shape our children's beliefs-so the time to start biblical conversations is now! In this foundation-laying book, Josh Mulvihill offers theological training for a critical area of parenting. He walks parents through how to begin conversations, then teaches them God's purpose for dating, marriage, and sex so they can pass this teaching on to their children. The Bible says children are never too young to learn God's plan for this area of their lives ... so prepare yourself to prepare them for one of the most important decisions they will ever make. Book jacket. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Growing Up God's Way for Girls Chris Jones, Liz Jones, 2014-04 Growing up God's way forGirls is a colourful, fully illustrated book available as separate versions for boys and girls. It is intended for children approaching or experiencing puberty, typically represented by the 10-14 years old age range. The artwork haas been specially produced for the book and includes accurate biological drawings as well as 'cartoon' illustrations to keep the young reader interested. Most importantly of all, the Bible is the constant reference point, so that what the Bible has to say about the matters dealt with is always front and centre. The result is that this book conveys essential biblical ethical teaching as well as the facts about puberty. For example, here's an extract from the teaching on the chapter on 'Physical Intimacy' (in this case in the girls version): So special that God has given us rules It might seem attractive to live in a world where there are no laws. (Of course it would mean that your parents would never be able to tell you that you were doing something wrong!) But have you ever thought what would happen if there were no laws about how we should drive a car? The laws of the road make it safe for us to drive. If there were none, many more people on the road would get injured and driving would be a very frightening experience. God has given us a law regarding how we relate to the opposite sex in sexual intimacy. This law is the seventh of the Ten Commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery' (Exodus 20:14). From this verse and other passages in the Bible, we learn that all sexual activity outside marriage is wrong. The word adultery means either being married and experiencing sexual intimacy with someone who is not your husband, or experiencing sexual intimacy with someone else's husband. In the New Testament, God warns us to 'flee from sexual immorality' (1 Corinthians 6:18). The term 'sexual immorality' includes any sexual activity that is not between a husband and his wife. The fact that God has given us a specific command to keep sexual intimacy for marriage shows how important God considers sexual intimacy to be. The husband and wife are important to Him, their marriage is important to Him, and the new life that may result from sexual intimacy is important to Him. God's law about sexual intimacy is for our safety and well-being - it protects us, it protects marriage, and it protects young life. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Reasonable Faith (3rd edition) William Lane Craig, 2008-06-09 Perfect as a textbook yet excellent for lay readers, this updated edition builds a positive case for Christianity by applying the latest thought to core theological themes. J. Gresham Machen once said, False ideas are the greatest obstacles to the reception of the gospel-which makes apologetics that much more important. Wanting to engage not just academics and pastors but Christian laypeople and seekers, William Lane Craig has revised and updated key sections in this third edition of his classic text to reflect the latest work in astrophysics, philosophy, probability calculus, the arguments for the existence of God, and Reformed epistemology. His approach-that of positive apologetics-gives careful attention to crucial questions and concerns, including: the relationship of faith and reason, the existence of God, the problems of historical knowledge and miracles, the personal claims of Christ, and the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus. He shows that there is good reason to think Christianity is true. As Craig says, If you have a sound and persuasive case for Christianity, you don't have to become an expert in comparative religions and Christian cults. A positive justification of the Christian faith automatically overwhelms all competing world views lacking an equally strong case. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: A Christ-Centered Wedding Catherine Parks, Linda Strode, 2014-05 A guide for believers who want their wedding to portray the relationship of Christ with the church and to reflect the gospel to all in attendance. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Choices Stacy Rinehart, Paula Rinehart, 1996-03-05 The world says you can have it all--sex without responsibility, relationships without commitment, and easy marriages that are here today, gone tomorrow. The Bible says you can have it all, too--but it gives you the big picture, spelling out the consequences of such choices. Choices reviews many of the principles about relationships in the Bible and shows how to make decisions based on all the information. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Before You Say "I Do"® H. Norman Wright, Wes Roberts, 2019-03-26 Build a Love that Lasts At a time when more people are delaying marriage or writing it off altogether, those ready to walk the aisle will appreciate a frank and trusted resource to help them start marriage on the right foot. This practical guide will help you explore your relationship in depth and will provide new insight into your partner and how the two of you relate to one another establish your wants and needs as individuals and a couple before your marriage begins lay the groundwork for open and honest conversation for a stronger, healthier marriage reveal how life events and family background can influence decision making in finances, family, education, faith, and career engage you in activities that lead to thought-provoking discussion addressing your past experiences and current expectations Engaging and easy-to-use, Before You Say I Do is full of tried and true wisdom to help you plan for your future and build a lasting relationship with the one you love. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Get Married Candice Watters, Steve Watters, 2008-09-01 Singles are getting conflicting messages from today's culture, both Christian and secular. Is it okay to want to be married? Is there anything a never-married woman can do, within a biblical framework, to assist the process? Candice Watters gives women permission to want Christian marriage, encourages them to believe it's possible, and supplies the tools to get there - despite our anti-marriage culture. This book blends the author's personal journey from singleness to marriage with the biblical perspective on marriage. As an editor for Focus on the Family's Boundless webzine, Candice Watters knows the target audience inside and out. Whether a woman has been told to get married or marriage is on her lifelong wish list, Get Married points her to the source! |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Relationship Goals Michael Todd, 2020-04-28 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A candid, inspiring guide to finding lasting love and sustaining a healthy relationship by getting real about your goals—based on the viral, multi-million-view sermon series about dating, marriage, and sex “No matter where you are and no matter what stage of life you are in, Relationship Goals will be a game changer.”—Levi Lusko NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY COSMOPOLITAN You scroll through photo after photo of happy couples and think, I want a relationship like that! The thing is, those intimate relationships are a mirage—the closer you get to them, the more you realize they aren’t real at all. So what does a real relationship look like? And how do you get there? In Relationship Goals, Pastor Michael Todd digs deep to give you good news and real-life ideas for making the most of your most important relationships. Take a look at • what it means to choose intentional dating over recreational dating • how to move on from mistakes you’ve made in the past • why love gets stronger after marriage • what the Bible has to say about sex (hot take: it’s more sizzling than you think) • why the best friendships have God at the center Whether you are married, single, or it’s complicated, aiming for the right targets will make all the difference in finding true satisfaction. As it turns out, God’s got the best relationship goals of all for your life. Why settle for less? |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Rethinking Sexuality Dr. Juli Slattery, 2018-07-24 This ground-breaking resource challenges and equips Christians to think and act biblically and compassionately in matters of sexuality. Sexual abuse, sex addiction, gender confusion, brokenness, and shame plague today's world, and people are seeking clarity and hope. By contesting long-held cultural paradigms, this book equips you to see how sexuality is rooted in the broader context of God's heart and His work for us on earth. It provides a framework from which to understand the big picture of sexual challenges and wholeness, and helps you recognize that every sexual question is ultimately a spiritual one. It shifts the paradigm from combating sexual problems to confidently proclaiming and modeling the road to sacred sexuality. Instead of arguing with the world about what's right and wrong about sexual choices, this practical resource equips you to share the love and grace of Jesus as you encounter the pain of sexual brokenness--your own or someone else's. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: The Adventist home Ellen Gould Harmon White, 2001 |
| preparing for marriage gods way: The Before-You-Marry Book of Questions Bill Farrel, Pam Farrel, 2013-10-01 From Bill and Pam Farrel, bestselling authors of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti and Red-Hot Monogamy, comes a new book especially for dating and engaged couples. Filled with their trademark wisdom, humor, and insight, The Before-You-Marry Book of Questions will help couples delight in their differences plan their financial future sort through family obstacles lay a strong foundation for a marriage that goes the distance give their marriage to God With “his and hers” quizzes and ideas for dates where couples can talk openly and freely about their relationship and future, The Before-You-Marry Book of Questions is a practical and essential guide for any couple building a life together. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: God Is a Matchmaker Derek Prince, Ruth Prince, 2011-06-15 God is the divine matchmaker, and this is His plan for you. Marriage is God's sacred creation, a beautiful gift for His children. But too often we fail to leave the choice or the timing to Him. In this revised and expanded edition of his bestselling book, well-known Bible teacher Derek Prince and his wife, Ruth, reveal God's true plan for you and your future spouse. In addition to sharing their own real-life love story, Derek lays out seven biblical steps to finding your mate. He will also help you answer tough questions, such as · How can I know if it is God's will for me to marry? · How can I prepare myself for marriage? · How can I find the mate God has appointed for me? · What is God's plan for remarriage? Full of inspiring testimonies from people who found their perfect matches by following these principles, God Is a Matchmaker also offers special counsel and material for parents, pastors, counselors, teachers and youth ministers involved with those preparing for this exciting time of life. When you discover God's pattern for marriage, you will experience His perfect gift: a match truly made in heaven. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Praying for Your Future Husband Robin Jones Gunn, Tricia Goyer, 2011-05-03 Have you ever thought about praying for your future husband? Will it make a difference? There's only one way to find out… From when we were small girls, most of us dream of “The One,” our future husband. We think about what it would be like to be a bride. We wonder who that special guy is and when we'll find him. The great news is that what you do now can make a difference in your life and the life of your future husband! Authors and good friends Robin Jones Gunn (Christy Miller series) and Tricia Goyer (author and former teen mom) believe God answers women's prayers for husbands—even husbands they may not meet for years. They invite young women to pray boldly for their future mate … while also asking God to prepare their own hearts. In Praying for Your Future Husband, Robin and Tricia share their two vastly different experiences, including the things they did right and the mistakes they made on the path to meeting and marrying their husbands. Each chapter includes helpful Bible verses, prayers, and practical application, along with true stories of women who prayed for a husband and how God answered in remarkable ways. God has a beautiful romance prepared for you. Prayer is the key to unlocking the love story … with your future husband and with God, the lover of your soul. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Preparing to Be a Help Meet Debi Pearl, 2010-04 You spend your time pining away for your one true love and suddenly...you're married and it is a lot more than you bargained for. Now is the hour you should be preparing to be a wife---to be a help meet. What does a good guy really look for in a girl? Are you a Dreamer, Servant or Go-to Gal? Do you know what to pray for your man-to-be? Should you tell a guy you like him? Can you know God's will in choosing a husband? |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Sacred Influence Gary L. Thomas, 2009-05-26 God calls women to influence and move their husbands in positive ways. Applying the concepts from his bestseller, Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas offers a view through a man’s eyes. Here’s the inside scoop on what men find motivating—with inspiring real-life stories of women who are employing this knowledge to transform their marriages. Sacred Influence doesn’t flinch from difficult marital problems. But by using this faith-focused approach, you’ll see how to help your husband become the man God intends him to be. At the same time, God will shape you to be the woman he designed you to be. God has given godly women a wonderful power to influence and encourage their husbands. What’s the secret? This book will provide challenges, examples, and hope to women who want to love their husbands well and be loved well in return. --Dennis Rainey, President of Family Life |
| preparing for marriage gods way: The Path of Life Lisa N. Robertson, 2019-05-07 “This book should be your next read! I give The Path of Life my highest recommendation.”--Lysa TerKeurst, #1 New York Times bestselling author Uncover joy on your path of life. God has a path for each of our lives--a path full of adventure, challenges, and joy. Biblical paths are not all that different from the paths we encounter in our world today. Finding God’s path is not a mystery. Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that He will teach us, show us, speak to us, and guide us on this path. Lisa Robertson is passionate about walking alongside women to uncover the mysteries, symbolism, and truths about the path of life. Perfect for fans of Lysa TerKeurst and Priscilla Shirer -- this book blends sound, Biblical teaching with heartfelt wisdom. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Common Worship: Times and Seasons President's Edition Common Worship, 2013-07-15 This revised, expanded edition of the Common Worship President’s Edition contains everything to celebrate Holy Communion Order One throughout the church year. It combines relevant material from the original President’s Edition with Eucharistic material from Times and Seasons, Festivals and Pastoral Services, and the Additional Collects. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: A Study of Ephesians Shante Grossett, 2020-10-14 Join me for an in-depth four week study of the book of Ephesians where we'll break down the truths about our identity in Christ and learn how to live each and every day in light of it. Let's take a deeper look at the foundation of the gospel and how it establishes our identity and empowers us to live the Christian life God called us to. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: What God Has Joined Peter J. Elliott, 2010-03-01 Much has been written about marriage from the sociological and psychological point of view and as an object of civil and canon law. But in terms of systematic theology this treatment of marriage as a sacrament may very well be unique. Every effort has been made to keep the text from becoming too academic while at the same time providing the average educated reader with a wealth of original insights into the mystery of marriage: in creation and as transformed by Christ. Chapters cover sacramental consent, bond, and covenant as well as the quest for the sign. Such thorny problems as the role of faith in the sacrament, marriage with an unbaptized person, the most pressing ecumenical questions and the relationship between the sacrament and contraception are studied in depth. Finally, the sacrament of family is treated at some length with an eye to its social and redemptive dimensions. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel Ray Ortlund, 2016-10-13 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. — Ephesians 5:32 Marriage reveals something of eternal significance. From the beginning, God designed marriage to convey a greater reality—the passionate, unfailing, redeeming love of God for sinners, the eternal romance between Christ and his bride. In this volume, Ray Ortlund traces marriage throughout Scripture—from the first marriage in the garden of Eden to the ultimate marriage in the book of Revelation—laying out a transcendent vision of marriage that dignifies our own imperfect unions as a display of the gospel. This book offers insight and hope to every married person today. Part of the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: King Lear Jeffrey Kahan, 2008-04-18 Is King Lear an autonomous text, or a rewrite of the earlier and anonymous play King Leir? Should we refer to Shakespeare’s original quarto when discussing the play, the revised folio text, or the popular composite version, stitched together by Alexander Pope in 1725? What of its stage variations? When turning from page to stage, the critical view on King Lear is skewed by the fact that for almost half of the four hundred years the play has been performed, audiences preferred Naham Tate's optimistic adaptation, in which Lear and Cordelia live happily ever after. When discussing King Lear, the question of what comprises ‘the play’ is both complex and fragmentary. These issues of identity and authenticity across time and across mediums are outlined, debated, and considered critically by the contributors to this volume. Using a variety of approaches, from postcolonialism and New Historicism to psychoanalysis and gender studies, the leading international contributors to King Lear: New Critical Essays offer major new interpretations on the conception and writing, editing, and cultural productions of King Lear. This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive anthology of textual scholarship, performance research, and critical writing on one of Shakespeare's most important and perplexing tragedies. Contributors Include: R.A. Foakes, Richard Knowles, Tom Clayton, Cynthia Clegg, Edward L. Rocklin, Christy Desmet, Paul Cantor, Robert V. Young, Stanley Stewart and Jean R. Brink |
| preparing for marriage gods way: After the Affair Janis A. Spring, 1997-02-14 For the 70 percent of couples who have been affected by extramarital affairs, this is the only book to offer proven strategies for surviving the crisis and rebuilding the relationship –– written by a nationally known therapist considered an expert on infidelity. When I was 15, I was raped. That was nothing compared to your affair. The rapist was a stranger; you, I thought, were my best friend. There is nothing quite like the pain and shock caused when a partner has been unfaithful. The hurt partner often experiences a profound loss of self–respect and falls into a depression that can last for years. For the relationship, infidelity is often a death blow. After the Affair is the first book to help readers survive this crisis. Written by a clinical psychologist who has been treating distressed couples for 22 years, it guides both hurt and unfaithful partners through the three stages of healing: Normalizing feelings, deciding whether to recommit and revitalizing the relationship. It provides proven, practical advice to help the couple change their behavior toward each other, cultivate trust and forgiveness and build a healthier, more conscious intimate partnership. |
| preparing for marriage gods way: The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness Mark Ballenger, 2017-11-03 The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness covers a wide range of common questions Christians singles often have. Why am I still single? Is God calling me to a life of singleness? How can I use this season for God's glory? Is God punishing me with singleness because of my past sins? How can I find a godly spouse? This book is divided into four sections which cover the common phases of Christian singleness. It has 30 short chapters, each with three reflection questions meant for small group Bible studies or individual use. |
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