7 Ways to Grow Your Marriage: Wife EditionSample

Today’s One Thing: Have an honest conversation with your spouse about one external boundary that might need strengthening in your marriage. Agree together on a specific step to better protect your relationship.

Are you guarding the edges of your marriage?

When I talk with couples, I often talk about the importance of boundaries. Just as a fence protects a lawn or a garden, healthy boundaries protect a marriage. External boundaries are those protective lines you draw between your marriage and outside influences.

In today's world, there are so many things competing for our attention and loyalty. Whether it's work that demands too much time, friendships that become too intimate, or technology that leads to dark places, these outside forces can erode your marriage if left unchecked.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) tells us to "guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." When we guard our hearts in marriage, we're not being controlling or untrusting—we're being wise. Nancy and I have found that having clear boundaries about our interactions with others, our time commitments, and our digital lives has given us freedom rather than restriction. These boundaries have created a safe space where our marriage can thrive.

Prayer Focus: God, give us wisdom in how to set healthy boundaries for our marriage. Protect us from evil and darkness. We want to walk in your holy freedom and not be bound by anything that would harm our marriage.

Reflection Question: What new boundary do you need to put in place to project your marriage?