How to Grow Your Marriage Spiritually

By: Jenifer Metzger

You want to work on your marriage. You plan date nights. You hold hands in the car. You laugh together. You are beginning to see the light. No, things are not perfect, but you can see improvement.

Now, let me ask you a very important question. Through all the work and effort you put in and all the improvement you've seen, have you worked on your spiritual growth as a couple?

We say we want God at the center of our marriage, but it takes more than just saying it. We have to work at it. God isn't going to step into the center of your marriage uninvited. He wants you to put Him there.

How can you and your husband grow together spiritually?

Pray together.

I know it seems like an obvious answer. But think about it, when is the last time you and your husband prayed together? I am talking about more than a meal time prayer here. When is the last time you grasped hands and prayed over your children, your finances, your health, your family, your church, your pastor, the need of a friend, or even just prayed telling God how much you love Him?

Before your husband leaves for work, ask him to pray with you. Pray together for your day and for safety as you go your separate ways. Before bed, pray together thanking God for the blessings of the day and pray for any needs there are. Your prayers might only be sixty seconds long and that is okay. Maybe your prayers are ten minutes long, that is okay. The point is to pray together.

Read together.

Bible reading is an important part of our Christian walk. It's how we learn the Father's heart. It's what we measure everything against. We must read our Bible.

Reading the Bible together as a couple creates a beautiful intimacy. Reading the Bible together lets you see how each other interprets and understands the Word. It gives for incredible discussions. And it helps us grow together. Try beginning with reading together once a week. Pick a night and read just one chapter then discuss it and pray over it.

Reading the Bible together can be difficult. I won't act like it's always easy. If reading the Bible together is difficult at first, instead try simply discussing what you read in your own Bible time. Spend a few minutes and talk about what you are reading and what God is speaking to you. After you get comfortable talking about it together, try reading a few verses together. Let it be a time of growth.

Give together.

The Lord commands in His Word that we give ten percent of our income in tithe. We are to be obedient and give our tithe. Even give above as an offering. What an amazing act of faith and worship that you and your husband can do together!

Discuss tithing together. Pull your tithe money out together Place it in the tithe envelope your church offers together. And joyfully give together. If your church has a passing offering plate, place your giving in the plate together. At one church we went to, the offering plates were at altar. During praise and worship, we would walk down to the altar and place our giving into the plate together. Whether you pay online or place your giving in a box in the back of the sanctuary, however you give, just do it together as worship.

Growing together spiritually is such a precious and intimate thing. It is something that will help your marriage to grow in all ways and it will positively affect all aspects of your marriage, family, and home. Commit to growing together spiritually.

And if someone overpowers one

person, two can resist him. A cord

of three strands is not easily broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Discussion:
1. Do you and your husband pray together regularly? If so, how have you seen growth? If not, are you both willing to begin?
2. What else can you do to help your marriage grow spiritually?