Pursuing Growth as Couples: A 3-Day Marriage PlanSample

Growing With God

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." (1 Peter 2:2)

Our culture tends to emphasize personal growth at the cost of marriage commitment. Humans are made for a lifelong growth curve, and the best place to experience it is inside a faithful, God‐blessed marriage. When the Lord Jesus is the “third person” in our union, we can flourish with spiritual intimacy and growth unavailable to others. I (Dr. Dobson) am reminded of a letter a woman wrote to me:

Dear Dr. Dobson:

My husband recently left me after fifteen years of marriage. We had a great relationship, but something was missing—we had no spiritual bond between us. Please tell young couples that there will always be a void in their lives together without Christ. A good marriage must have its foundation in Him to experience lasting love, peace, and joy. I am now growing steadily in my walk with the Lord, but I am alone.

Don’t forget to grow with God together. The “pure spiritual milk” Peter writes about is the Word of God. Along with Christian fellowship and prayer, the Bible will feed the deepest hunger of your heart. And you’ll find the soulmate of your dreams—sitting right beside you!

Questions for Today . . .

• Does my church experiences nurture my spiritual life?
• Do I have friends who encourage my spiritual growth?
• How can I do a better job of growing together with my spouse in God’s Word?

Prayer . . .

Lord, give me a hunger for Your Word. May I claim the spiritual growth You promise and the emotional and physical intimacy that can come with it. Amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Couples. Used with permission.)

Bonus Content: The Third Party

You may have heard that it takes two to tango, but did you know it takes three to have a successful marriage? This new video illustrates what happens when couples allow God to be at the center of their relationship.