Christian Marriage: Preparation & Beyond

There are many resources for Christians ready to get married. Many churches offer counseling and Christian marriage preparation courses for soon-to-be-weds at no cost or for a nominal fee.

These Bible-based courses will cover several topics that help prep each couple in the challenges and differences that occur in a relationship once those vows are said.

Most of the topics covered are the same that secular couples have to deal with as well.

Here are some Christian marriage preparation tips to help in preparing for marriage:

1. Never allow earthly things to divide you

This Christian marriage preparation tip is a lesson in impulse control. Temptations will come up for both parties. Do not allow material possessions, money, or other people to drive a wedge between the two of you.

Through God, you both can remain strong and deny these temptations.

2. Resolve conflicts

Ephesians 4:26 says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are angry.” Don’t go to bed without solving your problem and never strike each other. The only touches expressed should have only love behind them.

Find solutions to your conflicts before they take root in your mind and cause more problems later.

3. Pray together

Use your devotionals and prayer time to bond. By spending time speaking to God together, you are taking in His strength and Spirit into your day and marriage.

Christian married couples should read through the Bible together, discuss the passages, and use this time to become closer to each other and God.

Recommended – Online Pre Marriage Course

4. Take major decisions together

Marriage takes a lot of effort, time, and patience, and if you follow some Christian marriage preparation tips, you can make the process of building a strong foundation easier.

God’s promises for marriage are contingent upon your faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to make your marriage work.

Life is full of tough decisions regarding children, finances, living arrangements, careers, etc. and a couple has to discuss and stay united when making them.

One party cannot make a major decision without the other. There is no faster way to create distance in a relationship than making solo decisions.

This is a betrayal of trust. Develop mutual respect and trust by committing to making important decisions together. This will also help you to keep your relationship transparent to one another.

Find compromises where you can, and pray about it when you can’t.

5. Serve God and each other

This Christian marriage preparation advice is the key to enhancing and even saving a marriage or a relationship. The struggles of our daily lives can drive a wedge between you and your partner.

However, these struggles can also enlighten us to understand how to strengthen our marriage.

Marrying only to seek love or happiness would never be sufficient as the moment the love and happiness go away, we might not value our counterpart.

The teachings of Christ and the Bible convey that we should pray for our spouse and focus on strengthening them by encouragement rather than criticizing.

 6. Keep your marriage private

When married Christian couples allow their in-laws and their extended family to meddle in their affairs, then a lot of problems could arise. This kind of interference is one of the common stressors for couples worldwide, studies show.

Do not allow anyone else to interfere with the decisions that you and your spouse should be making for yourselves.

Even your counselor will advise you to try to solve your problems on your own.

For resolving conflicts and issues in your marriage, you can listen to other people’s advice, but the final say should always come from you and your partner alone.

If you can’t seem to be able to solve your problems just between the two of you, instead of turning to your in-laws, seek Christian counseling for married couples, or read Christian marriage books, or try a Christian marriage course.

The counselor will give you genuine Christian marriage preparation advice because they don’t have any personal interest in you or your relationship.

 7. Set realistic expectations

Another relationship killer is when someone in the marriage isn’t happy with how things are.

Learn to see beyond what you do not have and learn to appreciate what you do have. It is just a matter of changing how you look at things.

Appreciate the little blessings that you receive every day, and if you get to focus on the positive things that happen in every moment that you are in, then you will see that it is the little things in life that matter.

This is one of the best Christian marriage preparation tips that will not only be useful in your relationship but your life.

Also watch: Marriage expectations an reality.

Final words

Being involved with each other and the church is what will keep a Christian couple strong.  A healthy marriage isn’t difficult to achieve; it just takes a little bit of effort.

Keep God and each other in your respective hearts, and you won’t stray from the life you are building together.