Healthy, Thriving Marriage

​“Let marriage be held in honor among all,” Hebrews 13:4

Every married couple longs for a healthy marriage, but no couple naturally falls into a healthy, thriving marriage. It takes work and intentionality to create a marriage that is full of love and life. 

Here are 10 qualities that are evident in healthy, thriving marriages. Pray through each of these qualities as you examine your heart. Are these evidenced in your marriage? What steps can you and your spouse take to intentionally grow your marriage into a greater life-giving relationship? 

1) We are better together.  Buy into this reality!  Put your flag in the ground that we are better together, so you don't run off.  Declare this over your marriage~ we are better together! 

2) Opportunities to push your limits. What you wouldn't do on your own, you will try with the motivation and support of your spouse.  A healthy marital relationship gets you to go to places you wouldn't go on your own. 

3) Intentionality about spending time together. Steward the marriage relationship, spending time with the most important person in your life.  Apart from your relationship with Jesus, the relationship you have with your spouse is the most important one. 

4) Honor one another. We all come into marriage with ideas of what the relationship will look like. Make room for each other. Respect each other's ideas.  

5) Humility. Be willing to lay down or lay aside what you need, putting your spouse's needs before your own. Yield your heart to your spouse. 

6) Vulnerability. Be willing to take a risk with your spouse.  Have conversations that are challenging. Dream dreams that are bigger to accomplish on your own. Be authentic and real with one another.  

7) Prayer. Pray for each other. Pray together for your marriage and family. Make this a habit. 

8) Feedback. Invite feedback from your spouse.  This increases vulnerability. Ask a question of your spouse: What could I do to make you feel more loved?  or more respected? or more cherished?  

9) Stories & Testimonies. Share with one another what God is doing and how you see Him moving.  What are things you have prayed for together? 

10) Shared history. Take time to reflect on where you have been and where you are going. Plan for the future and celebrate the journey of marriage. 

Praying for your marriage: 

• Pray that your marriage would thrive and that your marriage would be filled with joy! 
• Ask the Lord to give you and your spouse the desire to pray for one another and with one another.  
• In prayer, declare this over your marriage:  WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER! 

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