“5 Simple Ways to Invest into Your Marriage for Maximum Returns” eCourse
Part 2 of 5
Welcome to Part 2 of your eCourse.
I hope you are having a blessed week.
5 Simple Ways to Invest into Your Marriage for Maximum Returns
eCourse
By David Peairs
Author, “7 Keys to Unlocking Success in Your Marriage”
marriagesuccesskeys.marriagevictory.com
Part 2: Build a proper foundation…so your marriage will stand strong through the storms.(Next time in Part 3, you’ll learn how your attitude affects your marriage. Now back to today’s lesson.)I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Luke 6:47-49 (NIV)
When problems come into a marriage, it’s difficult to know how to get through them. Sometimes the problems quietly sneak in like a ninja and sometimes they bust through the front door like a rhino. If there is no proper defense, both kinds are deadly…to your marriage.
You may be wondering, “How do I learn about every dilemma that could possibly come into my marriage and then how to defend against it?”
Well, you can’t. That would be focusing on the problem instead of the solution. All that negativity and knowing that you can’t study all the potential troubles would only lead to worry, fear, and depression.
That doesn’t mean you remain ignorant of everything that can come against your marriage. It’s good to have wisdom about those areas that are more likely to target YOUR marriage.
What do you do then? What is the solution?
Let God into your marriage!
He’s the One who created marriage in Genesis, so He’s the most valuable source for information on how to make it strong and able to withstand any problem assaulting it.
In Him, you have a defender against any attacks. He will go to combat against anything that comes against your marriage…
…if you let Him.
Now that’s the key. You’ve got to let Him be God in your marriage. He’s a gentleman, so He’s not going to force His way into your marriage.
The really cool thing is that He really, really loves you and wants to help.
He’s standing outside your home, just waiting for someone to open the door and let Him in. Frequently, He’ll ring the doorbell, letting you know He’s there. He doesn’t go away. He’s always there, just hoping that someone will run to the door, fling it open, and say “the house is a wreck, but come on in.”
Even better…once He comes in, He’ll start cleaning that house up. He doesn’t want you to clean it up all nice and tidy before letting Him in. He wants to come in no matter what it looks like. And no mess is too big for Him.
You have that choice…treat Him like a salesman and pretend you’re not home so He goes away (which God never will) or realize that it’s your best friend at the door and welcome Him in with open arms.
Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],
And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:3-4 (AMP)
When you build your marriage on God and His principles, He will reward those efforts. He will lead you to the marriage that’s better than you ever thought possible.
Here are some simple ways to start allowing God to work in your marriage.
1) Read God’s Word together.
One way to start is to simply read the Bible together after dinner. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Keep it simple to start off.
Once everyone has finished munching on their food at the dinner table, break open the Bible and just read a chapter. Start at the beginning of the New Testament or pick a favorite scripture or book of the Bible if you have one.
If you’d like, purchase a family devotional book from your local Christian bookstore. You can always ask for their help in recommending something. Then go through one devotional a day.
Like I mentioned in part 1 of this eCourse regarding conversation time, make sure the TV is off and that everyone is seated and paying attention.
If you have kids, include them in this time. You’ll start setting an example for them and even better, you’ll begin setting the foundation for their future marriage success.
As you start going through the Bible, you’ll come to a deeper understanding of how much God loves you and that He has great things in store for your marriage, your family, and your life.
2) Pray with or for your spouse.
Again, this doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Sometime during the day (I recommend starting the day this way), get together with your spouse and each of you pray out loud.
How do you pray and what do you pray about?
Simply talk to God like He was standing right there. Thank Him for loving you both. Ask Him to help you love each other more and more each day. Ask Him to protect your whole family. Request answers to any problems in your marriage or life. Thank Him for those answers.
Many couples are insecure about praying together. Maybe one is embarrassed because they think they don’t know how to pray. I encourage you to not let this stop you. If your spouse doesn’t want to pray out loud, don’t make them. Keep doing this regularly and hopefully they’ll get to the point where they are comfortable doing it also.
One note on this is to not make your spouse feel bad for not praying aloud. Don’t discourage them with a word, a grunt, or a facial expression that says “I figured you wouldn’t pray. You never do, so why should you this time.” Of this, I am guilty, so I know of what I speak.
If your spouse won’t pray with you, do it alone. Specifically pray for your spouse and that God would change their heart towards Him and you. Now don’t pray for God to strike them with lightning. That ain’t love.
Quit hopin’ and awishin’ that your husband or wife would change. Pray for God to work in them and change them for the better.
Be sure to include this next part too…while you are praying for your spouse’s change, ask God to make you aware of areas that you need to change. Then let Him change you. There have been times when I’ve asked God to change my wife, and He’s let me know that I’m the one that actually needed to change.
That’s it for today.
After you finish reading this email, pray that God will give you courage to act on these things and that He will bless your efforts. Remember, God loves you and your spouse and He wants you to have a GREAT marriage.
REMEMBER…in the next part you’ll learn how your attitude affects your marriage.
Have a great day and see you next time for Part 3.
On to victory!
David Peairs
Founder, MarriageVictory.com
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P.P.S. – To get additional tips for success in marriage be sure
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P.P.P.S. – Feel free to pass this email along to a friend. If
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