What Do You Think Is the Purpose of Your US?

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35 NIV).

For married people, there is no other “one another” more important than your spouse. That’s the point of taking the time to love well. That’s the point of being intentional with your thoughts. The point of all this, the purpose of “your us,” is to reflect the love of Jesus. Your marriage is to serve as a light, a bridge to who God is, for your kids, your family, your friends, your co-workers, your community, and your world. In fact, every one of the intentional thoughts included in this plan, were written with that purpose in mind. When you:

• Remember who you are, you will love more like Jesus.
• See the best, you will love more like Jesus.
• Choose empathy, you will love more like Jesus.
• Pause, you will love more like Jesus.

And perhaps nothing can help you reflect the love of Jesus more than the next and final intentional thought . . .

Intentional Thought #5: Love first.

During moments when you think, “I just can’t do this”—and in every marriage, those moments will come—think to yourself and even say out loud if you can, “Love first.” Saying this to yourself frees your mind to love like Jesus in a self-giving way, even when it is difficult. I can’t make any promises your spouse might not keep, but there is no greater hope for your marriage than to love following the model Jesus gave us.

Think About It

Reflecting the love of Jesus is the purpose of marriage. That is why, for the next 30 days, I want you to say out loud to yourself twice a day—once in the morning and once before you go to bed—the following

Five Intentional Thoughts. I will . . .

1. Remember who I am.
2. See the best.
3. Choose empathy.
4. Pause.
5. Love first.

Read More

To read more about Us In Mind, get the book at usinmindbook.com.