January

A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

GENESIS 2:24 ESV

JANUARY 1

Resolutions

I will give heed to the blameless way. When will you come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.

PSALM 101:2-3 NASB

Many of us make annual New Year’s resolutions, only to abandon them while the year is still young. The resolutions are usually great goals, but we lack the willpower to keep them. In Psalm 101, King David speaks boldly about his resolve to govern his kingdom and his home with integrity and righteousness.

Have you considered making the same declarations for your home and your marriage? Would your behavior, attitudes, words, and choice of movies and entertainment change? Would you be more mindful of keeping your word and be less influenced by the world? We know that determination alone cannot carry us, but David knew that too. He could make these bold statements because he knew that God was loving, kind, fair, and dependable. God is the real power behind resolutions.

Are the two of you willing to make David’s resolutions your own? How can you walk with integrity in every area of your life?

JANUARY 2

Life Adventures

How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

PSALM 84:5 NASB

Marriage is an adventure. Adventures take us into unknown territories, and so do our relationships. Part of the fun in any adventure is having a companion along for the journey, and nothing could be better than experiencing joyful moments with a sweetheart.

However, adventures come with hazards and unexpected moments that threaten to wreck our trips. Life adventures deal with unexpected heartache, health problems, and financial difficulties. Where do we turn when life’s trip takes a bad turn? Tour guides lead and advise travelers on their adventures, and we have the ultimate guide in God. When troubles disrupt the adventure, he sees clearly our path, and he will provide the necessary tools for the journey.

What are some adventures that we can do together for God? What have we learned from life adventure disruptions, and how can we use those moments to draw closer to each other?

JANUARY 3

Thinking of You

God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 1:8 NASB

Built into each of us is a craving for love and affection, and that longing is important in our relationships. God set the standard for perfect love, inspiring us with his example. But it’s easy to get busy or preoccupied as responsibilities claim our attention. Forgetting to express affection creates a void in our marriages.

Marriage needs all kinds of affection. Physical touch is vital; hugs and kisses say, “You are the most special person on earth to me.” And it’s important to hear the words I love you each day. Try writing a quick note to leave by your spouse’s morning coffee cup. Send flowers just because, or a text that says, “Thinking of you.” As God beautifully shares his love with us, we can become extensions of his loving hands and heart and share that love with the partner he’s given us.

How do you feel when your sweetheart is affectionate toward you? What can you do to be more loving to your spouse?

JANUARY 4

Eternal Authority

Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?

ISAIAH 43:13 NASB

How glorious it is to belong to the King! What an honor to be counted among his children, to be held secure in his hand, to be the recipients of his love and affection. We are finite beings, but the Lord Almighty is infinite. Our presence here is fixed, but he is eternal. We were created by him and for him; he is the Author and Creator of all that we know. What he has decided to do, none can dismantle. Whom he decides to save, none can sway.

The Lord extends his hand and delivers us from our adversary, and all the enemy’s schemes cannot crush his limitless power. He is from eternity, possessing all form of love and wisdom. His plan is perfect, and we are part of it. For all of time—past, present, and future—the Lord reigns with justice and mercy. We are blessed beyond measure to know and be known by him.

Knowing that God holds you and keeps you safe, what could you and your spouse endeavor to do with boldness?

JANUARY 5

Foresight

I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

JOB 42:2 NASB

Sitting in agony, covered in dust, boils, and tears, Job declared his faith in God. Although it seemed like his whole world had fallen apart, Job still believed that God was able to do anything. He believed in God’s ability to remove his sufferings, yet he received something far greater than relief: God met Job in his pain and showed him his great mysteries. Rather than ease his suffering, he used it to open Job’s eyes and grew his relationship with him even deeper! Job’s faith multiplied, as did his wisdom.

When we suffer, rather than immediately seeking an escape, we should look for how the Lord might be using the situation to richly bless our lives. Instead of making our anguish end, he may meet us in it and share the burden with us. Far more desirable than a life of ease is the experience of a true friendship with the Creator. His plans will be established across the globe because his purposes cannot be stopped. His friends are invited to participate in his mission, but it will be accompanied by many hardships and trials. But he is with us through it all.

In the midst of suffering, does your mind go first to easing your pain or seeking God?
How can you encourage your spouse in moments of suffering?

JANUARY 6

Best Friends

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

PROVERBS 17:17 NLT

True friendships are often revealed through adversity. When the excitement wears off and the trials hit, loyal friends will remain to help fight the battles. Their love is constant and not dependent on what they receive from the relationship. Friendship does not ask what is fair; it exhibits true love regardless of the cost.

Marriages will experience conflict, but a healthy marriage will rise above the argument and spouses will support each other through the best and worst of life. Christ is the perfect example of a devout lover, a brother, and a true friend. His love is constant, never wavering and eternal. He came to earth to help those in need, not to be served, and he gave his own life to serve those he loved. In Christ, we are family. We may be friends as well, but first we are brothers and sisters in Christ, loyal to the Lord and to each other.

Beyond partnership, do you and your spouse enjoy a friendship together?

JANUARY 7

What You Bring

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 PETER 2:9 NRSV

We were chosen as God’s people, and the purpose for that is not our own self-preservation or glorification, but so we may proclaim his goodness and explain all the incredible wonders he has done on our behalf. Remembering where we came from helps us keep perspective on who we are; we were once lost in darkness, but God called us out of it and flooded us with his marvelous light. Now we are members of his holy family.

Anyone willing to leave their dark pasts behind and submit themselves to Christ’s calling becomes a member of his holy nation—a nation which will endure forever and not be swept away with temporal things. Regardless of where we come from or what we look like, we become one spiritual race since we share the same Father. Peter made it clear that this was not an invitation to the Israelites alone but to anyone who stumbled out of darkness and embraced living in God’s light.

What opportunities do you have to proclaim the mighty acts of God?

JANUARY 8

Stormy Waters

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

ROMANS 5:3-5 NIV

Wouldn’t it be nice if every marriage came equipped with a plan for smooth sailing? Instead, we encounter severe storms and rough waters as we face financial difficulties, health crisis situations, and relationship struggles. These moments can strengthen us or destroy us, and our attitudes influence the outcome as we face those challenges.

By asking God what he wants us to learn from those situations, we build perseverance and character to help us in future storms. As we see God’s hand in our lives and marriages, we have confidence in his will for the years...