Our Best Life Together

Becoming One Takes Time

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 NIV

Like any other couple, when we first got married, we had to work through some things. The Scripture says the two will become one, but you don’t become one overnight. It takes some time. Thirty years later, we’re still becoming. We’re not perfect, but we made the decision early on to keep strife out of our home. It didn’t happen automatically. We’re two different people and have two different ways of doing things. We had to grow together, make allowances, and overlook some things. Had we not stayed on the offensive and worked to keep strife out, we wouldn’t have the wonderful marriage we have today.

The two of us don’t agree all the time, but that doesn’t mean we have to argue. If things start to get heated, walk away. You don’t have to engage. It’s better to have peace than to have your own way. It is better to have a loving, kind, joyful atmosphere in your home than to win the battle and be so miserable that you don’t want to be there. We’ve learned that when we leave it up to God, He’ll change what needs to be changed. We can’t change each other. Only God can.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You that You brought us together to grow together into a oneness of heart and soul. Help us to overlook some things, to make allowances for our differences, and to stop trying to change each other. We declare that only You can change what needs to be changed in our lives in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have Your Anchor Down

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

The Scripture tells us, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” What’s going to keep you together as a couple, what’s going to cause you to overcome challenges and reach your dreams, is when you are anchored to hope. That means that no matter what you face, no matter how long it’s taking, you know that God is still on the throne. You know that His plans for you are for good, that He’s bigger than any obstacle, that His favor is surrounding you. When you are tied to this hope, the winds, the waves, and the storms cannot move you.

We’ve learned that there will always be something trying to get us to pull up our anchor—a bad medical report, bad breaks, delays, disappointments. In the tough times, when life doesn’t make sense, when your prayers aren’t answered, you have to make sure the two of you keep your anchor down. If you pull it up, you’ll drift over into doubt, discouragement, and self-pity. When you’re anchored by hope, you may think, This problem is never going to work out, but your faith will kick in. “No, we know the answer is already on the way.” Every time negative thoughts come, trying to pull you away, your anchor kicks in.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You that we have You as the anchor of our relationship. Our hope and faith are firm and secure in You. We believe that Your plans for us are good and that Your favor is surrounding us. Help us to keep our anchor down in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

A Joyful Home

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

Psalm 126:2 NIV

Friends often ask us about the secret to a healthy marriage. We always tell them two things: number one, always be respectful, even when you disagree. And number two, don’t ever stop laughing together. Make sure your house is full of joy and happiness. The enemy cannot stand the sound of husbands and wives and family members having fun together. He wants there to be so much strife, tension, and pressure that we never have any joy in our homes. Don’t fall into that trap.

If your relationship isn’t what you’d like it to be, we recommend a good dose of humor, laughter, and joy. We know the pressures of life can weigh on the best of marriages and test the love of even the most devoted, but it might help you to remember why you fell in love in the first place. Remember the things you enjoyed doing together, the fun and the laughter that made you want to go from being single to being a couple.

If you bring that joy back into the home, you will see a freshness in your relationship. Find the humor in everyday moments. Make laughter a lifestyle choice. Welcome joy into your home as a permanent resident.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You for healthy, joy-filled relationships, especially our relationship. Help us to always overlook offenses and fill our home with laughter each and every day. Give us opportunities to lighten the load of the people we love. Let our joy be contagious in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Turn It into Worship

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?”

Matthew 6:27 AMPC

If we could add inches to our lives by worrying, some of us would be twenty-three-feet tall. What do you worry about as a couple? What keeps you up at night? What’s taking your joy? When you worry about your health or child or finances, you’re making those your God. Do yourselves a favor: take that worry off the throne, and put God back on the throne. Use that same energy to thank God that He’s in control.

Worry is not going to go away automatically. It’s a decision you make. Every time you’re tempted to worry, turn it around and thank God that He’s taking care of that situation. Guard your mind. That’s where the real battles take place. Most of the time, especially in difficult situations, the first thoughts that come are negative. What if this doesn’t work? The easy thing to do is to start dwelling on it. What if we can’t make the payments? Your life is going to follow your thoughts. Turn your worry into worship. Thank God that He’s fighting your battles. Thank Him that no weapon formed against you will prosper.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, we praise and worship Your holy Name. Thank You that in Your presence is fullness of joy, peace, and rest. We choose to guard our minds from worrisome, anxious thoughts. We give You thanks that You’re in control, and we declare that You are fighting our battles in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Happiness Is Your Choice

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 ESV

It is a simple yet profound truth: happiness is a choice. You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect in your relationship or your family or with your business. You don’t have to forgo happiness until you lose weight, break an unhealthy habit, or accomplish all your goals. If you want to enjoy your best life together, it is vital that you choose to be happy today and every day. It’s up to you.

You might as well choose to enjoy your lives! When you do that, not only will you feel better, but your faith will cause God to show up and work wonders. To do so, you need to understand that God gives us the grace to live today. He has not yet given us tomorrow’s grace, and you should not worry about it. Learn to live one day at a time. By an act of your will, choose to start enjoying your lives right now. Learn to enjoy each other, your family, friends, health, and work; enjoy everything in your lives. Happiness is a decision you make, not an emotion you feel. God gives us His peace on the inside, but it’s up to us to tap into God’s supernatural peace. Happiness is your choice.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, You alone are worthy of our praise. Thank You that You have made this day, and every day, for us to choose to be happy and enjoy our lives. We choose to live one day at a time. We declare that we will walk together in Your supernatural peace no matter what comes our way in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Constant Reminders

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

… you who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence, and give Him no rest…

Isaiah 62:6–7 AMPC

One of the most powerful ways to pray as a couple is to find a promise in the Scripture and remind God what He said about you. “God, You said we’re blessed and cannot be cursed.” “God, You said Your favor is not for a season but for a lifetime.” When you can say, “God, You said…,” all of heaven comes to attention. God is faithful to His Word.

Notice that it doesn’t say, “Put God in remembrance of your problems.” Sometimes we use prayer as an excuse to complain. “God, our children are getting on our nerves. We can’t take it anymore.” You don’t have to tell God your problems. He already knows your needs and every concern. It’s okay to be open and honest and tell God how you feel, but don’t turn that into a self-pity session. All that will do is make you more discouraged.

If you want God to turn it around, then instead of complaining, find a promise you can stand on. When God hears His promises, He sets the miracle into motion. He will change things in your favor. It may not happen overnight, but just stay in faith and keep reminding God what He promised you day in and day out.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, we praise You that You are the Lord our provider. You said You would supply all our needs according to Your riches. You said what is impossible with men is possible with You. Thank You that You are faithful to Your Word and keeping every promise to us in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Heart Matters

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward him…”

2 Chronicles 16:9 TLB

All of us make mistakes and do things we know we shouldn’t. We lose our tempers with each other, don’t keep our word, let our guard down and compromise. It’s easy to go around feeling guilty and condemned, beating ourselves up with shame. Voices will whisper, “God’s never going to bless you as a couple. You don’t deserve it.” We think, Once we overcome all these things we’re struggling with, we’ll have God’s favor.

But God is not looking for couples who have a perfect performance, who never make a mistake. He’s looking for people who have perfect hearts toward Him. That means you may make mistakes, but you have a desire to please Him. Deep down you want to honor Him with your lives. It’s your hearts that matter.

When Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He chose people who had lots of flaws. God looks beyond all that. He knows it’s the heart that matters. He chose those whose hearts were turned toward Him. Your performance may not be perfect, and your behavior, attitude, and character may need some improvement, but just as with the disciples, God is saying, “I know your hearts are sincere. So I’m going to show Myself strong in your lives.”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, we love You and humbly come to You with open and willing hearts. Search us. Know us. Our performance is far from perfect, and there is so much we need to improve on in our attitudes and characters, but our hearts are toward You. Our hearts are set to do the right thing in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Sharpen Each Other

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

This principle is true in our relationships: if you see the good in your spouse, your children, your friends—focus on their strengths, praise them for what you like about them—that will draw out more good. People improve when you praise them for what’s right, not when you nag them about what’s wrong. Your spouse can have a hundred good qualities, but if you focus on the three things you don’t like, it will become a source of frustration that drives a wedge between you. If you focus on their good qualities, your relationship will improve.

If you overlook the things you don’t like and focus on the things you do like, it will change the atmosphere in your home. Here’s a news flash: your spouse is not a finished product. God’s still working on them. God has put you together so you would sharpen each other. Don’t use your iron to say hurtful words that cut like a knife or use your iron to try to hammer out all the flaws and weaknesses. The way you sharpen each other is by bringing out their good qualities. Praise them for what you like, encourage them in what they’re good at, cheer them on for what they’re doing right. Be a voice that pushes them forward.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, we love You and praise You that You’re working in our lives. Thank You that You brought us together so we would sharpen each other and bring out each other’s good qualities in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Don’t Rely on People

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Your approval means nothing to me…”

John 5:41 NLT

It’s great when people believe in us, cheer us on, and make us feel valuable. We love when our spouse compliments us, a friend gives encouragement, a coworker helps us on a project. God uses people to help move us toward our destiny. But here’s the key: you can’t become so dependent on people, including your spouse, that you’re trying to get your worth and value from them. It’s easy to begin to rely on them to keep you feeling good about yourself and make you feel approved. But if they don’t meet your expectations, you’ll feel discouraged and inferior. The problem is, you’re trying to get from people what only God can give. Your value, your self-worth, doesn’t come from another person—it comes from your Creator.

If you rely on people for your value, you’ll be disappointed. People will let you down, won’t always be there when you need them, and sometimes will turn on you. When Jesus was about to be crucified, when He needed His friends the most, Peter denied that he knew Him and others fled. Jesus knew better than to rely on people. What they do or don’t do doesn’t determine your worth and cannot stop your purpose. God breathed life into you and crowned you with favor. Quit depending on others’ approval and start approving yourselves.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, we honor and glorify You. Thank You for the people You’ve placed in our lives to help us move to our destiny. Help us, though, to not become dependent upon their approval or try to get our value from them. We declare that we have Your approval and love and that’s all we need in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Always Thankful

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17 NIV

Do you ever wonder how much more we would enjoy life if we chose a lifestyle of being thankful, constantly thinking about how blessed we are as couples and all the good things God has in store for us? Even in difficult times, we’re thanking Him that He’s bigger than our problems. We’re thanking Him that what He started in our lives together He will finish. Every time you do that, you’re not just being positive, you’re getting filled back up. God is pouring strength, peace, and joy back into you.