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Marriage: A Lifelong JourneySample

Marriage: A Lifelong Journey

DAY 1 OF 7

Commitment

Traditional marriage vows include the phrase, “Till death do us part.” Unfortunately, these words have become something of a ceremonial cliché rather than a statement of deep commitment to God and another human being.

Travel through our country’s small towns, and you’ll likely come across an array of honorable folks who still seal their agreements with a handshake and who consider their word an unbreakable bond. In the business world, contracts are much more formal, of course, crafted with highly detailed legal jargon that reads like a foreign language. Whatever form these commitments take, the purpose has always been the same – to offer protection, not when everything is running smoothly, but when things fall apart.

Commitment is perhaps no more important than when it comes to marriage. It provides strength and stability when a relationship encounters challenges. Unfortunately, many couples take an opposite approach when things turn sour – they run, rather than digging in their heels when commitment requires it the most.

As the president of an organization dedicated to strengthening marriages, trust me, I understand that relationships can encounter serious difficulties that are not easily resolved. But with the highest rate of divorce in the world, it’s evident that our society rushes too quickly toward marriage break-up instead of diligently working to restore a relationship back to health.

Commitment is foundational to surviving conflict. It enables us to focus on honoring God and serves as the fuel for us to work through our struggles with persistence and determination. The next time you find yourself in a heated disagreement with your spouse, commit to drawing closer together instead of running away.

For a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly’s blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.

Scripture

Day 2

About this Plan

Marriage: A Lifelong Journey

When we speak of marriage, words like “commitment” and “hard work” don’t exactly ring with fairy tale-like charm. After all, love should be easy, right? Well, the truth is, relationships that stand the test of time take a little effort. But “work” doesn’t have to equate to “drudgery.” In fact, it’s the little things couples do for each other every day that God uses to enrich a marriage. As one writer put it: “Marriage is a journey, not a destination – its treasures are found, not just at the end, but all along the way.”

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We would like to thank Jim Daly and Focus on the Family for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.JimDalyBlog.com