Keys to Successful Married Life
Pray Together
Set aside some time every day to spend in prayer along with your spouse. As the saying goes, the family that prays together stays together. Prayer brings people closer to God and closer to one another. Prayer is also very powerful. Jesus said: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:19-20).
Read the Bible Together
Spend some time each day, or at least once a week, reading the Bible together. To know God better you must spend time hearing what He has to say. The Bible is His message to you. If you want Him to listen to what you have to say, you should also listen to what He has to say. In John 14: 23-24 Jesus says: ‘If anyone loves me he will cherish my word; my Father will love him and we will come to him and make him our abode. He that does not love me neglects my words. Yet the word you hear is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.
Make Decisions Together
It is best to make all major decisions jointly, especially so in the case of decisions pertaining to family finance, which is an area that can cause undue strain on marriages. Make it a habit to discuss your finances on a regular basis. Keeping one partner in the dark about financial aspects is likely to drive a wedge between couples, leading to deterioration of relationship.
Attend Church Together
Make it a habit to attend church together and to participate in various activities within the parish. One of the best ways to stir up love and encourage good deeds is by remaining faithful to the Body of Christ by meeting together regularly as believers.
Laugh Together
As years pass by, couples tend to laugh less, and the enthusiasm they have about their relationship also dwindles. Start having fun again, going out on picnics, telling jokes to each other, watching your favorite comedy shows together and doing little things that keep you cheerful. Proverbs 17:22 says: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."
Learn to Forgive
Forgiveness is a must if your marriage is to survive. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. It is human to err, but it is divine to forgive. We should not only forgive, but also forget the wrong do. This spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation will make for a more lasting and loving marriage. The Bible says: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).
Make Each Other a Priority
Do not let your spouse ever feel like they come second place to your career or to anything else. Make your spouse feel he or she is the most important thing in your life. Use random acts of kindness and romance to show that you really care.
Maintain a United Front
Let the community around you know that you stand united. Speak well of your spouse. Don’t talk to people about your spouse’s shortcomings. And don’t wash your dirty linen in public. Putting up a united front is especially important once you have children. Stand by one another. Don’t let anyone or anything divide you.
Respect One Another
Understand that your spouse is an individual like you and has feelings, emotions, likes and dislikes just the way you have. Mutual respect is as important as mutual love, and is an essential ingredient of a successful marriage.
Keep the Spice Going
Couples often cease to be romantic and become complacent once they are married, especially after the kids come along. It is good for them to continue doing the things they used to do during the days of courtship. Keeping the spice in your relationship definitely has its benefits!