Marriage Relationships That Stand the Test of Time

Marriage Day (Photo credit: Fikra)

There is something about life that requires us to walk through it with someone else. As human beings, we were never intended to be islands, which is why relationships are so vital. Marriages are covenant relationships because they are designed to operate based on the exchange of strengths for weaknesses. More than anything, I'd like your marriage relationship to be blessed, so that it can stand the test of time.

If you are married, I want you to strengthen what you have by finding the time to continue dating one another, become spontaneous and keep the humor in your relationship. Because the institution of marriage is a fundamental necessity of a sound society. There is great hope and power for your marriage today, because the Lord Almighty designed the institution of marriage for humanity's sake and He will not give up on marriage ever, even when a demoralized society does.

We must be able to recognize and honor covenant relationships because they are bridges to our success and prosperity. I want you to remember that God is a redeemer and a restorer. The Lord gives you beauty for ashes and nothing is too difficult for Him.

I think most of us have the tendency to make things more complicated than we need to. I believe that if we made a subtle shift in the way we thought about our relationships we could have more success. We maximize our relationships when love is the foundation but some of us have a warped understanding of love. It's hard for emotional love to stand the test of time, because it is based on feelings and feelings change. However, lasting marital relationships are sustained by agape love (the God-kind of love), which is unconditional and based on a decision, not feelings.

Our culture has caused many young folks to believe that sex is love but sex is meant to be the result of a covenant and a covenant starts with sacrifice. In other words, sacrifice is putting another person's needs before your needs.

When two people have the ability to love each other in a sacrificial way, that's extremely powerful. I'll say it this way...

• Some days you must give more than your spouse. You're going to have to shoulder the load and demonstrate grace.
• Other days your spouse will need to give more than you. They will have to help bear your burdens.
• Every single day you're together, neither of you alone will be enough to take on the daily trials and tribulations that life sends your way, which is why you need your spouse and more importantly is why you need Jesus, because He's the source of sacrificial love.

The world will offer plenty of opportunity over time for you to give up on marriage. There is a lot of generic marriage advice given on talk shows and in self-help books but Christians should understand something that the secular world doesn't; lasting love is found in the bible.

This world places conditions on love. You've got to earn it by looking a certain way, dress a certain way and do what someone else demands. Marital love should be different from the love of the world, one that isn't built on conditions, unconditional love. That is the kind of love your heavenly Father has for you, doesn't that make you glad? It does me.

This is straight talk about marriage, those who were raised in a broken home because of divorce are more likely to experience divorce themselves and those couple who are on their second or third marriage find divorce as a viable option all to easily when faced with difficulties. But through working knowledge of covenant relationships the cycle can be broken. It is crucial that this cycle be broken, because it does have a depraved effect on society in general.

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Marriage Essentials - Do You Make The Grade?

It is amazing how many people will search for marriage requirements to see if they can legally get married or perhaps to see if they can have a Church wedding. Yes these same people may not give the same time and thought to whether the person they are marrying is the right one for them. It is so easy to get caught up in the romance of the occasion and to forget that while your wedding day is a big event, it is the start of something so much bigger.

Tying the knot is a commitment and should be treated as such. Many people give more thought to taking out a joint mortgage than to getting married. This could be due to the fact that divorce is relatively inexpensive, unless you have a complicated estate or are very wealthy, and it is also socially acceptable in most circles. The fact that celebrities marry and divorce at will certainly doesn't help.

Listen, marriage prerequisites should be considered. Learn about your future partner's past and their plans for the future. Be sure the two of you are on the same page. Do you both want children? Should there be a prenuptial agreement? Learn as much about each other as possible. No doubt, there will be surprises in the future but the more you know going into the marriage the less likely there will be a surprise that derails the marriage. Ask many questions!

The sad fact is... most people don't walk away from a failed marriage without receiving pain and scarring. It's difficult to see all your dreams of happiness with another person die. And it is worse when you remember that a significant number of people who divorce, regret it. They don't regret getting married, they regret getting divorced!

So what can you do to prevent landing in a similar situation? The first step is to be realistic in your expectations. While it is fantastic to have your husband or wife as your best friend, they cannot supply you with everything you need. You have to a happy individual in your own right or you will make both of you miserable.

You need to be independent even though you are part of a couple. You should show your partner love, respect and loyalty while still giving them and expecting them to give you the freedom to have a life of your own. Your partner should know that they can go out with their friends and have a good time without getting the third degree on their return. Your relationship will be much more successful if everyone involved has room to develop and breathe. And if you do have kids be careful to still make your relationship a priority as one day they will grow up and leave home and you don't want to be left with a stranger for company.

You need to do things as a couple and spend quality time together. Nurture your love and show appreciation for each other. Surprise your partner with a small romantic gesture every now and then and not just on the obvious occasions like their birthday, Valentines day or your wedding anniversary.

Save My Marriage Today is a book that will offer invaluable insights and advice in regards to marriage essentials. You will get ideas on how to prevent your marriage from joining the growing list of divorce statistics. It's crucial to concentrate on being sure that your marriage will stand the test of time.