Ignite Your Marriage: 7 Days to Deeper Love & Lasting ConnectionSample

God's Blueprint for Marriage

Scripture:"A cord of three strands is not easily broken."-Ecclesiastes 4:12

Every great house starts with a blueprint. Without one, what happens? The walls end up lopsided, the roof leaks, and eventually, the whole thing falls apart. Marriage works the same way. Without God's blueprint, you're winging it—and trust me, winging it doesn't work when life gets messy.

When my wife Lisa and I got married, we thought we were stepping into a fairy tale. You know, the whole Disney thing: the handsome prince, the beautiful princess, and a happily-ever-after that required zero effort. Spoiler alert: that's not how it works. Real marriage isn't about a fairy godmother swooping in to fix everything—it's about rolling up your sleeves and building something real. And we quickly learned it's not just about the two of us. Marriage is a three-person project: Lisa, me, and God.

Think of it like a triangle: God's at the top, and we're at the two bottom corners. The closer we move toward Him, the closer we move toward each other. But here's the twist—when you leave God out of the equation, that triangle collapses, and your "happily-ever-after" starts looking more like a bad reality TV show.

Building a marriage takes intention. It's not about grand romantic gestures (although flowers don't hurt). It's about the little things—apologies, kind words, and choosing to love even when you don't feel like it. Love isn't a magic spell; it's a choice. And when you follow God's blueprint, even the tough days become opportunities to strengthen what you're building.

So, here's your challenge: take one intentional step today to strengthen your marriage. Maybe it's as simple as saying, "You're still my favorite," or putting down your phone and really listening. Whatever you do, do it with purpose. With God's blueprint, your marriage won't just survive—it'll thrive, fairy tale or not.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of marriage. Help us see it through your eyes. Show us Your vision for our relationship and give us the courage to pursue it. Draw us closer to You and to each other. Amen.

Reflection:

· What was your vision when you first got married?

· How could your marriage better reflect God's love?

· What one step can you take today toward God's vision for your marriage?