New Year Resolution for The Christian Marriage

Silhouette of Woman Praying Buy From Art.com As we peer into the New Year (some of us are looking ahead through a Vitamin D Deficient haze :-), we may be anxious or hopeful.

We do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." This verse is such a comfort to me in our constantly changing world!

The New Year is a wonderful time to recommit to our marriages and seek God for His strength and wisdom. Ephesians 5 tells us that marriage is a picture of Christ and the church (however imperfect that picture may be). Yes, you are right at the center of God's will when you are committed to strengthening your marriage and seeking God's love for your spouse. God created marriage for His purposes and plans.

When our marriages are "good" and we are feeling happy, we don't need God's love for our husband, do we? However, when our relationship is going through the hard slog of misunderstanding, irritation, and discouragement we realize that without God we would feel nothing for the man we vowed to love and honor.

"Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag downwards; unconquered hearts which no tribulation can wear out, upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside...


Remember this (coming from an old married lady of 30 years) that the hard times in life always feel like they will never end. You think to yourself, "I've been miserable forever...I have never been happy in this marriage."

Sister, when you catch yourself thinking this way, remind yourself that your marriage coach, who is older and much much wiser (that would be me :-), told you that you would have days like this. Remember that I told you they really don't last forever. Hang on!

Use this brand new year to commit to praying for your marriage. Your marriage (in some ways) stands separately apart from your husband and yourself. You can do things for the good of "the marriage" even when you don't have loving emotions toward your husband.

"Your Father in heaven knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Matthew 6:8

Bathe your marriage in prayer. Pick a specific time in your day when you will pray for your marriage. You may have to link that time to something you do every day so that you will remember to do it (for example, when you are driving back from dropping your children off at school each day or when you are in the shower each morning).

...bestow upon us, O Lord our God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, and a faithfulness that will finally embrace Thee." -Thomas Aquinas

Prayer calms our emotions, clarifies our thoughts, and brings us the peace so necessary to the hard work of living. Prayer is the essential breath of the christian woman.

When you pray for your marriage and seek God's love for your husband you are choosing great good for future generations. Every single child in your family and the children born to your children will be influenced by your decision to work through the tough times and give God the glory in the good times.

Build your marriage in the new year. Pray.

Jill Farris grew up in a New Mexican hippie village. As a college student she realized she was a sinner in need of a Savior. Kneeling in her dorm room she committed her life to following and serving Jesus Christ.

Jill speaks and writes on home educating, parenting, and godly womanhood and can be found at her speaking website www.jillcampbellfarris.com. She also invites you to visit her blog Generational Womanhood.