An Intentional Engagement

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Whether you are newly engaged or days away from tying the knot, the Bible can provide you with a vision and purpose to guide your engagement and prepare you for a marriage that honors God. I hope you find encouragement wherever this guide meets you in your wedding planning journey.

The months leading up to your wedding day are filled with voices competing for your attention. Gorgeous photos of perfectly styled weddings invite you to set unrealistic standards for what your celebration should look like. Family members with good intentions have a plethora of advice to offer on everything from the guest list to the menu. Even our own inner monologue can distract us with negativity and anxiety during what should be a time filled with hope and excitement. Over the next few days, we’re going to tune out these voices and tune in to God’s word as our only source of truth. Ask God to give you peace and direction as you prepare for your future marriage and the celebration that marks its beginning.

James 4:8a says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” If we take the time to slow down and seek God’s guidance, he is willing and waiting to provide it (James 1:5-6). When you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list, pray for vision to prioritize what matters. When you face tension with family members or even your fiancé, pray for wisdom and unity.

Over the next few days, we’re going to explore God’s design for marriage and study passages of the Bible that will challenge us to prioritize what God says is important over what the world considers of value. Today’s passage from Matthew 6 invites us to shift our perspective from the temporal to the eternal. By adopting a kingdom mindset, we can abandon the anxiety and stress often associated with planning a wedding and trust God to care for us as he does in every area of our lives.

Imagine what it would look like to spend the time leading up to your wedding seeking God and preparing your heart for the commitment you are about to make. I believe even the shortest engagements have enough room to plan a beautiful and meaningful celebration, while still intentionally growing in relationship with God and your future spouse. The key is to approach every wedding planning decision with a kingdom mindset, acknowledging that even the most beautiful of events only last for so long while marriage rooted in the foundation of God’s word was designed to last a lifetime.