How do you protect your marriage? Resolving to protect your marriage together requires committing to steer clear of “minor” threats and be accountable to one another. Drawing clear boundaries is necessary because you are human. But creating a hedge of protection around your marriage also has many rewards.
Marriage
Focus on the Family invites you and your spouse to celebrate Advent. To pause from the hectic pace of the holiday season and remember those who waited for God’s promised Son, to hope in His Word and to rest in His love.
There is cultural confusion about money and marriage. From a biblical perspective, when two people marry they are creating a shared life together. This unity important reality that impacts every area of life, including finances. Money can’t be his or her money. It has to be our money. All things are shared.
The holiday season is a perfect time for giving thanks to our good God and counting the blessings that He provides. See if your heart change doesn’t impact your mood, your relationships and your perspective. May we all reject attitudes such as ingratitude, self-pity, fear, and envy. Instead, may we embrace a grateful heart.
With a simple text, you can comfort someone and pass along powerful encouragement, just as the apostle Paul did in his letters. Even a short text can lift spirits and express love. Say you’re praying. Let your friend know that you’re available to meet in person if possible and to provide any other tangible help.
As Christians, we know that staying close to Jesus requires time and effort. So why do we think we can take our spouse for granted? Staying close to our spouse also takes time and effort. Try these five ways to rekindle your relationship.
Does your busy life leave you feeling exhausted and stretched thin? At some point, our Christian culture has rewritten the greatest commandments from loving God and others as yourself to loving God and others instead of yourself. The goal of godly self-care is to give from a place of abundance.
Relationships between married couple and their in-laws can be difficult. Couples can mitigate disagreements and problems they have with their in-laws by showing honor to them and building mutual respect. Not making demands, learning to negotiate, as well as expressing appreciation where you can, are key skills for doing this.
Learn how to strengthen your marriage and love your husband by building a good relationship with your mother-in-law. There will be times when you feel misunderstood or maligned even by the most caring mother-in-law. Remember the concerns and challenges she carries and choose to believe the absolute best of her character.
Christmas gift-giving can be stressful, especially when it comes to finding a gift for your spouse. These tips will make gift-giving easier. An often-forgotten side to the gift-giving tradition is that your spouse is sharing something meaningful, possibly as a way to spend quality time together. Learning that is a big part of marriage.
Pornography — whether used infrequently or as an addiction — is a big deal. And it can have a major impact on a marriage.
It’s hard to describe the pain of walking through your child’s divorce. How do you support him or her in this time? Here are some practical ways to deal with your own hurt and come alongside your child.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes It was supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. I was a new bride, and my heart was full of anticipation as I looked forward to celebrating our first Christmas together as a married couple. But the holiday season turned out to be anything but peace on …
Quiet divorce is a growing problem in marriages today. It happens when couples stop paying attention to each other and slowly drift apart—without ever filing for divorce. Every married couple needs to understand what a quiet divorce is and why it matters. As a husband and a marriage counselor, I want to share practical marriage …
One of the best things you can give your spouse during the holidays is time. Use these Christmas conversation starters to build intimacy with your spouse.
Your husband’s sex drive changes as he ages, and illness can also affect it. Although a diminishing sex life may be disappointing for you as a wife, it’s potentially devastating for your husband. But an encouraging wife can make a big difference.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all formula that will instantly revolutionize a mismatched marriage, a few principles can contribute to the health of a relationship. Continue to cultivate your relationship with God while also remaining a devoted spouse and live out your faith without trying to “fix” your spouse.
Spiritual attacks and normal growth issues are happening all the time. If your relationship is going through some rough patches, consider taking some practical steps to improve it. Pray for your marriage and get on the same team as your spouse. Make sure you are improving as a person and investing in your marriage.
Because of birth order, the place in their families of origin, spouses have different experiences growing up, and that shapes behavior, personalities and relationships with each other. Understanding how birth order affects how your spouse thinks and behaves can improve communication in your marriage.
Every family has its quirks. You can’t control your family, but you can control your responses to the things they say or do. The best time to think about how you’ll respond is before you leave home. What if you responded to those comments with grace?