10-Day Marriage Seriesنموونە

Day 9: What Does Love Really Mean?

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'" (Matthew 5:37)

Love can be defined in myriad ways, but in marriage "I love you" really means "I promise to be there for you all of my days." It is a promise that says, "I'll be there when you lose your job, your health, your parents, your looks, your confidence, your friends." It's a promise that tells your partner, "I'll build you up; I'll overlook your weaknesses; I'll forgive your mistakes; I'll put your needs above my own; I'll stick by you even when the going gets tough."

This kind of assurance will hold you steady through all of life's ups and downs, through all the "better or worse" conditions.

The Lord has demonstrated throughout the ages that He keeps His promises—including the most important one of all, reserving a spot in heaven for each of His followers, for all eternity. Since God keeps His promises, we must keep ours too—especially the one we made before God, our family, our friends, and our church on our wedding day.

Questions for Today . . .

• What part of your wedding vow means the most to you now?
• In what ways has your pledge to "stick together no matter what" seen you through hard times?
• How do you and your spouse benefit in your relationship with God by keeping your commitments to each other?

Prayer . . .

Dear Lord, give me Your strength today to honor my promises. May my word be my bond—to You, to my spouse, to my friends, and my family members and associates. Thank You that You never waiver on Your promises! Amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Couples. Used with permission.)

Related Resource . . .

It can be hard to feel happy when the circumstances around you aren't going right. Difficult times can weigh heavily on us—and on our marriage. However, Brenen and Morgan Beeler remind us that things don't have to be perfect for us to experience joy. It can come from seeing all that God is doing in and through us, and remembering that "the joy of the Lord is [our] strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).