First Years of Marriage

In my youth, many women mentored me through their God-given gifts and talents. And now I feel my calling is to pass on these strengths to brides-to-be everywhere. After all, in order to borrow, someone else must be willing to share!

All couples risk drifting apart. By observing three principles — scheduling dates, admitting to brokenness and seeking spiritual intimacy — a couple can keep their marriage on course and enhance it.

Ladies, do you find yourself being snarky to your husband way too often? I’ve done that and worse. If I could go back and sit down with my newly married self, here’s what I would tell her.

Many marriages operate like a cable company. They give the best of themselves initially, but that royal treatment doesn’t last long. Here’s a tip on how to keep from taking your spouse for granted.

If we want our faith in God to increase, we must increase our knowledge of God and His ways. This couple’s devotion will help you encourage your spouse to build and increase his or her faith.

Use conversation to stay connected.

Do you and your spouse have different beliefs about starting your family – about when to get started or whether to have children at all?

For emotional intimacy to grow, each partner must be willing to meet the other’s deepest needs and protect the other’s greatest vulnerability.

Yes, having children will change your marriage, but you can trust that God designed your marriage to grow and deepen through that change.

Your timeline for having kids is important. It is worthy of careful prayer, but not hypercare.

Couples who arrive at a shared vision and a purposeful approach to starting a family are able to experience greater joy in their marriages and in their future roles as parents.

“Why have kids?” That’s a question couples are increasingly prone to ask.

Cutting back during the first year should serve as a unique contribution to the happiness of your spouse.

If you want a deeply satisfying sex life, you must become a student of your spouse.

Couples often argue about sex, but they rarely talk about it. Try to talk and pray together about your sex life at least once a month to learn more.