Steps to Strengthen Your Marriage

Emotional needs must be met in order for each partner to be fulfilled in a marriage. The way that you treat your spouse on a daily basis can create feelings of anxiety and sadness or feelings of love and happiness. Fulfillment and happiness should be the ultimate goals. Negative or unkind words can tear at your spouse's heart. These words or attitudes can break the love connection. Couples must learn to overcome these destructive ways and reinforce protection and respect for one's spouse. Security and knowing that you are completely safe to share your feelings is a marriage builder. Choosing to be positive and thinking of your spouse's feelings before your own is of utmost importance. Be willing to openly discuss uncomfortable issues, even if you don't agree with them. Share your feelings and let your spouse share theirs without being rejected or beaten down.

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Resolving conflict creates greater intimacy in the marriage. If couples feel safe they will be able to be honest and open with each other. This can foster a deeper love for each other. Distrust and dishonesty are destroyers of love. Without honesty in a marriage it is impossible to solve conflicts and issues that arise. Through honesty you come to know more of the heart and soul of your spouse and develop a greater respect. In order to completely trust and understand one's spouse, honesty must be number one. Couples need to create time to spend alone with each other. This must be made a priority in a marriage. Make time somehow, to talk and listen to each other giving undivided attention to one another. In order to meet each other's emotional needs couples must spend time together, being close, sharing conversation, doing an activity and sharing intimacy. Time equals love. Strengthening your personal relationship with Jesus can improve your marriage and strengthen your love and commitment to each other as well. Pray together, read a devotional together. A Christ-centered home is the foundation on which a great marriage is built. A strong foundation brings meaning and purpose to every area of our life. We cannot rely on our own strength; we live in a fallen world with temptations all around us. We must let Jesus work in and through us as we seek to live out holy lives. We must commit our marriages to God and ask him to protect us and keep us pure in our thoughts and daily living.

Marriage is a balance of living and loving, embracing change and new growth. It entails being available to our partners, laughing and crying together, sharing our goals and dreams and passions together. Learning to forgive and let go of past hurts. Couples need to develop good habits of sharing issues and feelings in a caring and loving way so their partners feel safe and don't become defensive. Otherwise communication will break down. Remember to love, love, love, unconditionally. Let everything be done in love.

Matthew 19: 5-6
"What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."

1) Head to your favourite coffee shop for a specialty coffee and just sit and chat with one another across the table!
2)Rent a romantic movie and cuddle up on the couch with a coffee and your favourite treats!
3)Plan a short hike for just the two of you. Pack a little lunch or snack and share it together!
4)Find a great recipe for dinner and go to the market together and buy the ingredients and then have fun cooking it up together!
5)On a beautiful day head to a Botanical flower garden and learn and explore the beauty of nature together!
6) If you like outdoor adventures, take a long bike ride together, maybe find some great riding trails and explore new ground!
7)Play a round of mini-golf or maybe try bowling! Don't take it too seriously just have fun with it!