Day 7: “What am I doing every day to nurture my marriage?”

Today’s soul question is “What am I doing every day to nurture my marriage?” and our focus is on tending the garden.

As you ponder the final soul question of this series, what comes to mind? If you have made it this far into the series, you have most likely learned several ways to pour into your marriage and have (hopefully) acted on the action items we have given you.

As Christians, we are not only encouraged to pour into our marriage; we are lovingly commanded to do so and to do so daily. In fact, how we are called to engage in our marriage is compared to Jesus’ commitment and devotion to the Church - wow!

I think we can all agree that Jesus made it His business, every single day, to invest in the Church and make it His greatest priority.

In Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus, he writes, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:22, 25)

Now, wives, what does that look like if you are called to submit to your husband as you would submit to the Lord? Just like you would make time daily to pray to God, read His word, and act on His commandments, you are called to honor your husband and nurture your marriage. This looks like being intentional with how you show up in your marriage, love your husband, serve him, assume the best in him, and partner with him to create a thriving, Christ-centered marriage.

Husbands, what does that look like if you are to love your wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for the Church? In every move Christ made, He had the mission of the Church in mind. He prioritized the Church, He fought for the Church, and He sanctified Himself for the Church. In the same way, you are called to focus on your wife and your marriage daily. You are called to honor her, cherish her, fight for her, and make yourself holy for her. You are called to stand with her through any storm with honor, integrity, and strength.

The grass is greener where you water it. If you do not tend the garden, you do not get to participate in its fruit. In the same way, we are called to nurture our marriage daily so we can experience the incredible fruit of a thriving, Christ-centered marriage.

We honor and appreciate you for investing your time, energy, and emotion in this devotional. We hope and pray that you found ways to grow, heal, better honor God with your marriage, and increase your connection with your spouse.

Action Item: For more ways to “tend the garden,” head over to: becausemarriagematters.com

-Austin and Rachel Holt // info@becausemarriagematters.com