Marriage Monday On a Tuesday!!

After a weekend of scenes and rehashing of the "Royal Wedding", I am reminded of the joy and excitement of being a young bride.  Next week, at our church, we will be giving a bridal shower and see firsthand the joys and anticipation of a new marriage.  It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement and the newness of a wedding.  I remember how it consumes the thoughts, plans and activities to the point of blocking most everything else out!  But it felt so good to be riding high on the clouds of love! 

But once the ceremony is over....are we prepared for marriage?  For the day in, day out responsibilities of caring for another besides ourself, for building a life of love that stands the storms of life?  For the struggles which may seem to take every ounce of grit and substance we have in us?  If we did not have an example of godly marriage set before us (which I did not), we will quickly learn that we need some reinforcement.  We need to place our faith in something strong and sure to build a firm foundation.  We need the Lord, His grace, wisdom and love - alive in our hearts, homes and marriage!

I am forever grateful that my husband and I accepted the Lord several months before we married.  Our marriage was built on the foundation of the Lord with the purpose to glorify Him and build a generation who loves and obeys the Lord.  But as new Christians, my husband, being the diligent and purposeful one that he is, grew quickly in the knowledge of the Bible, memorized Scripture, promptly set a purposeful time each day for quiet times and grew steadfast in his faith.  I (busy in the pre-marriage excitement), grew much slower.  He was learning the rich truths in Romans and wanting to share and discuss them while I was dwelling on home decor or what gifts to give my bridesmaids!! 

Once the wedding was over and true married life began, I understood my need to grow in my faith and not lag behind.  My prayer became for unity in our spiritual life, not competing, but complimenting one another as we encourage each other in the Lord.  My  husband's diligence has inspired and encouraged me to remain faithful in devotions and prayer, to seek consistently to draw near to the Lord, to be faithful in church attendance and support and to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  I realize how blessed I am to have a husband who is a spiritual leader, but also the importance of faith in the Lord in a marriage.

No matter how great or how small that faith is, it can grow.  A marriage is built on faith one step at a time. The key components are prayer, reading God's Word and applying it to our lives.  Character is formed during hard times and when those times come, if we lean on the Lord, He will direct us, meet our need and we will grow stronger in Him and in our faith.  And those are the keys to a faith filled, joyous marriage!