Have you ever heard someone refer to a couple as “a match made in Heaven”? I’m sure you have because it is a very popular saying. However, it is more than just a saying; it is truth. Marriage can be like Heaven on Earth when husbands and wives understand how they can work together to create an atmosphere of love and fulfillment in their relationship. Being willing to compromise and make adjustments to meet each other’s needs is critical to having a successful marriage. In addition, spouses must make a commitment to walk in the love of God, no matter what.
There are some specific things to keep in mind when looking at how you can create a successful marriage. First, every couple must make their marriage their first priority—before their jobs, church, and even their children. I know that sounds harsh, but it is true. Your children will receive a greater benefit from the family unit when their parents’ relationship is healthy and happy.
Sometimes there is an unconscious assumption that our marriages will successfully run by themselves while we deal with everything else going on in our lives. The truth is, they won’t. There is no denying that we live in a busy world and have many responsibilities; however, we cannot afford to let any of these things outweigh the most important relationship we have other than our relationship with God. Simply put, we must make time for our spouses. For those with extremely hectic schedules, this may mean using a planner or calendar to schedule dates and other fun activities with your spouse. However you choose to manage your time, make sure you are spending quality, interactive time together on a regular basis.
Another key to having a successful marriage is knowing the importance of appreciation and praise. I think we all can attest to the fact that it feels really good to be appreciated and celebrated by the ones we love. Husbands and wives need to let each other know how much they appreciate what the other is doing. This can be communicated through words and actions. For example, giving a card that expresses your appreciation for your spouse is a great way to let your mate know how much you care. Or you could do something nice and unexpected, just because. The point is to always let your mate know how much he or she is loved and appreciated. Husbands and wives should praise each other regularly and never take one each other for granted.
More than anything else, we must remember love is a decision, not a feeling, which means even when we don’t necessarily feel like walking in love, we choose to do so anyway. Understanding this is really the basis of the covenant agreement we made with our spouse at the altar. It is a commitment to walk in love no matter what our emotions are telling us to do, which means we don’t jump ship when things are tough. By using love as our standard, we will find ourselves looking for ways to give our mate the advantage and ultimately enhance and improve the quality of our marriage.
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